gb news. >> good afternoon britain . it is >> good afternoon britain. it is 12:00 on wednesday. the 27th of december. rishi sunak ring giveaway. it's just been announced just moments ago that the spring budget will take place on march the 6th. the prime minister is said to have demanded a gear change on tax. he's looking at axing inheritance tax altogether, shaking income tax ahead of shaking up income tax ahead of the next general election . will the next general election. will it be a bold budget and storm garrett chaos .7 the met office garrett chaos? the met office has issued nine yellow weather warnings across the uk as travellers are warned of potentially hazardous conditions on road and rail and shoplifting

epidemic over 200,000 shoplifting cases went unsolved . shoplifting cases went unsolved. in just 12 months. that's according to new analysis of official figures. what needs to be done to stop it? an and the comedian ricky gervais has come under a little bit of fire with his latest netflix special. it's been labelled a deeply problematic i'll tell you why later in the show , so stay tuned. but first, show, so stay tuned. but first, let's get your latest news headunes. headlines. >> emily. thank you. good afternoon. i'm sam francis in the gb newsroom. the headlines at 12 chancellor jeremy hunt has announced that the 2024 spring budget will be delivered on

march the 6th. well that comes as reports have been emerging that downing street is considering axing inheritance tax and reducing income tax. the move is one of a handful of attention grabbing pledges that number 10 hopes will boost rishi sunak's chances win. the sunak's chances of a win. the housing secretary, michael gove, has suggested to the times has also suggested to the times that party will cut the that the party will cut the upfront cost of a home for first time buyers in a pre—election giveaway. the prime minister has said that he intends to call the general election 2024, general election in 2024, but opinion is still split on whether it will come in the spnng whether it will come in the spring the autumn . well, spring or the autumn. well, thousands of travellers are at risk of missing their flights due to multiple signal failures on the rail network. east midlands railway said the issue is disrupting services between london saint pancras and luton airport. a thameslink service calling at the airport earlier was delayed by nearly two hours. meanwhile christmas rail disruptions are continuing as engineering works take place. london paddington remains closed, affecting journeys to and from south wales , bristol, and from south wales, bristol,

the west country and heathrow airport. meanwhile a multiple british airways flights have been cancelled as storm garrett hits the uk. strong winds have meant that flights that were due to operate from heathrow to operate to and from heathrow have there are have been axed. there are multiple. there are number of multiple. there are a number of yellow weather warnings for wind and across the country, and and rain across the country, and they're place for south of they're in place for south of england. parts of wales, north—west england, northern ireland and scotland . well ireland and scotland. well hospital car parking fees in england have risen more than 50% in the last year. that's according to new figures. visitors and patients spent £146 million for parking in 2022 to 23. that's the equivalent of £400,000 spent in hospital car parks every day. the data, which was uncovered by the liberal democrats, also found that parking fees paid by hospital staff has soared more than eight fold. it's up from 5.6 million to more than £46 million. brits will soon be able to buy a new pint sized bottle of still or

sparkling wine. that's as part of new post—brexit freedoms . the of new post—brexit freedoms. the new size will appear on supermarket shelves, as well as pubs, clubs and in restaurants. the government says the move will offer more flexibility and choice for customers. champagne point pint bottles were also sold in the uk up until 1973, when britain joined the european common market. but it stopped as they didn't comply with eu weights and measures. parliamentary under—secretary for business kevin hollinrake says the move will benefit everyone in. >> well, i think it's a really important change. we used to be able to pints of champagne able to buy pints of champagne in bottles and wine, for example, before joining the european union, so i think it's an opportunity for innovation . an opportunity for innovation. churchill's favourite size of bottle . he said it was the right bottle. he said it was the right size for lunch for two or for dinner for one. so i think it's a nice innovation and something we can do now. we left the european union well, more than 200,000 shoplifting cases went unsolved in the space of just yeah

>> new figures show that only around 15% of some 320 62,000 cases were said to have resulted in a suspect being charged. the liberal democrats, who studied the figures have accused the government of failing to tackle what they an epidemic. the what they call an epidemic. the home office, a home office spokeswoman , said charging rates spokeswoman, said charging rates for shoplifting are up by almost a third in the past year , and a third in the past year, and the number of people shopping in the number of people shopping in the boxing day sales across the uk was more than a fifth lower than this than last year. figures from mri software found that whilst footfall had been 2.3% higher for figures before 3:00 pm, it was significantly lower when recorded across the day as a whole, the group said the busier start on tuesday was dnven the busier start on tuesday was driven by a 6.5% increase in high street visitors , and the high street visitors, and the only location to experience a rise was central london. this is gb news, where across the uk on tv, in your car, digital radio and on your smart speaker. now though. more from . emily

though. more from. emily >> well, thank you for joining me. the breaking news is that the chancellor has announced when the spring budget will be, andifs when the spring budget will be, and it's going to be march , and it's going to be march, march the 6th. so what could be in it? we've also heard that rishi sunak could be heading to cut taxes. could that be in the budget? could there be some kind of pre—election giveaway that might help with that poll lead that rather huge poll lead that labour currently have? sunak said to be considering a cut in both income tax as well as a potential axing of inheritance tax altogether . could this cut tax altogether. could this cut labour's lead in the polls? as i just said? jeremy hunt has announced the 2024 spring budget will be delivered on march the 6th. what will it contain? i'm joined by gb news political correspondent olivia utley . correspondent olivia utley. olivia, very nice to speak to you.so olivia, very nice to speak to you. so we've just heard the spnng you. so we've just heard the spring budget will be on march the sixth. lots of work will be

put into this. is it going to be a bold one in? >> well, i think it probably is going to be a bold one. it feels very much now as though we are geanng very much now as though we are gearing up for an election. there's talk in there's increasing talk in westminster that that election could be as early as may 2024, rather than september. october 2024 as had previously been predicted. there was little hint of that in the autumn statement, which was delivered a couple of months ago . jeremy hunt, uh, cut months ago. jeremy hunt, uh, cut national insurance tax . a2p cut national insurance tax. a2p cut to national insurance was pretty big cut and introduced emergency legislation to bring forward that tax cut to january rather than april , that tax cut to january rather than april, when a tax that tax cut to january rather than april , when a tax cut like than april, when a tax cut like thatis than april, when a tax cut like that is normally implemented, that is normally implemented, that got tongues wagging in westminster, that the conservatives were preparing the ground for a spring election. now now we're hearing that the budget is going to take place in early march, and we're beginning to hear a few leaks about the sort of policies that the conservatives might put in it. scrapping inheritance tax has

always been very, very popular among conservative backbenchers . among conservative backbenchers. and actually polls really well with the public as well. there are those who find that quite surprising because actually only a very small percentage of the population will benefit from a cut to inheritance tax. but interestingly, a much larger proportion of the population think that they will benefit to a cut in inheritance tax. so some say that it's quite a good policy for the conservatives to be talking about. it's quite cheap for treasury, but cheap for the treasury, but polls very well . they're also polls very well. they're also talking michael gove is talking about michael gove is talking about michael gove is talking in talking about bringing in a longer time fixed rate mortgages and something like 30 year fixed mortgages. that's something that's already very common in the us, but not something we've seen in britain before . seen in britain before. obviously, that would take a lot of pressure off those taking out mortgages . also talk about mortgages. also talk about scrapping stamp duty really interesting to see whether or not they go for that. um, again , not they go for that. um, again, when it would benefit on the whole , those in london and the

whole, those in london and the south east, because it only affects properties over 425,000. what i think most people will be looking for or what they should be looking for in that budget, is whether or not jeremy hunt raises the threshold at which income tax is charged . charged income tax is charged. charged because at the moment it has been frozen for such a long time . um, at, uh, the 25,000, 50,000 tax brackets being frozen , that tax brackets being frozen, that for such a long time that all sorts of people, public sector workers have been pulled into higher tax brackets. that's known as a stealth tax. a way of the government taxing people more actually to more without actually having to push on paper. if jeremy hunt push it on paper. if jeremy hunt does cut that, then that might give the conservatives a bit of a boost in the polls. but obviously at this stage, with an election just around the corner, it's hard to imagine what kind of he could pull out of of rabbit he could pull out of the which would save things i >> -- >> yes, exactly. but it's interesting. inheritance tax, we hear time and time again that maybe the conservatives might axe it . they might reduce it

axe it. they might reduce it substantially. whether it happens is another thing. but if it did, that would be a clear dividing line between the conservatives and the labour party , because the labour party party, because the labour party also wants to see income taxes go down, or at least they say they do. but inheritance tax, thatis they do. but inheritance tax, that is one thing the labour party will not stand by. surely >> well, absolutely . this would >> well, absolutely. this would be a really obvious way for jeremy hunt and rishi sunak to get some clear blue water between themselves and labour. obviously. traditionally, the conservative lives are on their strongest ground when talking about tax, but in the last few years that hasn't been the case at all. as we keep hearing britain's tax burden is the highest it's been since the second world war, it seems now, with all this talk about various different types of tax cuts, as though the conservative government have decided that the only possible way to potentially maybe stand a hope of clutching back victory from the jaws of defeat is to begin by cutting taxes. and perhaps they're

thinking , taxes. and perhaps they're thinking, where taxes. and perhaps they're thinking , where better to start thinking, where better to start than inheritance tax, where labour has made its feelings plainly known? >> yes , olivia, and i wonder >> yes, olivia, and i wonder where this is coming from, whether this is being led by jeremy hunt, the chancellor , or jeremy hunt, the chancellor, or rishi sunak. in the papers today . rishi sunak, a gear change is what he wants when it comes to tax or so sources are saying. is this being led by rishi sunak, who wants a low tax, smaller state economy going forward? jeremy hunt, known for being more cautious. is it rishi sunak the prime minister who is leading the way on this tax cutting, potentially ? i i'm i'm cutting, potentially? i i'm i'm not sure. >> i mean, jeremy hunt, yes, he has been cautious recently. but actually if you remember when he was standing to be leader both times tax cutting was really at the heart of his economic agenda. and actually rishi sunak was seen to be more cautious . so was seen to be more cautious. so i reckon it's probably both of them sort of walking in lockstep at this stage. when rishi sunak became prime minister, uh, last

year and took inherited jeremy hunt as his chancellor, they both did say that what they planned to do was try and cut inflation down before cutting taxes . now what they will be taxes. now what they will be saying now, what we will definitely hear jeremy hunt saying in that spring budget is that they have managed to cut inflation, they have managed to get that number down to something like 4. obviously, the bank of england's target is 2, so there's still a way to go, but they have managed to halve it. year. will say it. this year. and they will say that means they now that that means they now have headroom , as they call it, to headroom, as they call it, to begin cut some taxes. they begin to cut some taxes. they will that this was the plan will say that this was the plan all along , although quite a lot all along, although quite a lot of watchers will of westminster watchers will think throwing a few, think that it's throwing a few, throwing a bit of red meat, perhaps their tax cutting backbench and the run up to this election and i'm sure most people would very much enjoy a tax cut, of course, but many will point to public services not being in a very healthy state, not least the nhs .

state, not least the nhs. >> also our education system as well, always needing more money. will people? will the labour party likely go on that line saying it's all well and good having tax cuts ? but what about having tax cuts? but what about the crumbling public services that to be funded ? that need to be funded? >> really interesting question. i think that, yes, definitely we will hear a lot about nhs waiting lists. that was one of rishi sunak's five pledges at the beginning of this year. get nhs waiting list down and arguably that's the one where he is most obviously failed by nhs. waiting lists are at something like 7.7 million and obviously with, uh , strikes on and off all with, uh, strikes on and off all of 2023 doctors trikes heading into 2024, uh, those waiting lists don't look set to shrink any time soon. will labour go on the attack and say, we can't afford to start cutting taxes? look at the state of the nhs ? or look at the state of the nhs? or will keir starmer want to appeal to that centre ground again and present himself as a tax cutting

politician too? i suspect the latter. i don't think keir starmer will go in on on ideology and start talking about how the nhs has to be properly funded at this stage. i think he will actually tack closer to what the conservatives are talking about and show that he too, is interested in cutting taxes. that's the sort of trajectory that keir starmer has been on. getting further and further towards the centre . further towards the centre. >> and as we know, they're putting together their manifesto as we speak . putting together their manifesto as we speak. so we'll see putting together their manifesto as we speak . so we'll see what's as we speak. so we'll see what's in there when it comes to tax and spend policy. thank you very much gb much indeed. olivia utley gb news, political correspondent. so let's get a bit of a political view to . i'm joined by political view to. i'm joined by charlie rowley, who's a former special adviser to michael gove. charlie great to see charlie always great to see you so the budget the spring budget will be on march the 6th. what can we expect ? can we expect? >> well, um , good afternoon, >> well, um, good afternoon, emily, and thank you for having me. >> and i think what you will see is another step towards delivering on conservative principles. >> you've heard , as you were

>> you've heard, as you were just talking about home ownership, something a very conservative aspiration, the potential to cut inheritance tax or to scrap inheritance , or to scrap inheritance, inheritance tax. but i think in the budget you will see the start of tax cuts, something that people acquired across the conservative party, conservative supporters have been calling for some time. and i think that will be something that the chancellor will be deliver. it'll will be able to deliver. it'll be proudly the be able to proudly stand at the despatch box and say at the start , the prime start of the year, the prime minister set out five priorities, three on the economy. was economy. and one of those was halving inflation because inflation what was really inflation was what was really impacting on the cost of living on pound their on people's pound in their pocket. but since inflation, as you were just saying, has come right the way down from about 11% now to, uh, just over about two, he will be two, two, 3% now, he will be able to say, because of all the hard work that has gone into delivering on of prime delivering on one of the prime minister's priorities, we minister's top priorities, we can now that on to the can now pass that on to the british . british people. >> that's he would >> i'm sure that's what he would say, his say, charlie. but his inheritance , inheritance tax, inheritance, inheritance tax, the right priority. we're seeing from some conservative mps, not

least jonathan gullace, who is often on this show . least jonathan gullace, who is often on this show. he least jonathan gullace, who is often on this show . he says often on this show. he says there are many other there are many other taxes hitting working people at the moment that could be reviewed way before inheritance tax. >> well, i know , i know jonathan >> well, i know, i know jonathan well. he's a great man , but i well. he's a great man, but i think he would agree with me that inheritance tax is something is an something that is an aspirational, uh, thing that the conservative party would want to see get rid of. so it's all about opportunity and making sure that, look, people have sure that, look, people who have worked hard all of their lives that paid a lot of tax on that have paid a lot of tax on some of their, their assets, the idea you work hard and idea that when you work hard and save have something that save and you have something that you on to your, you want to pass on to your, your and future your family and future generations , the idea that the generations, the idea that the government should then have even more to tax some of that is more say to tax some of that is just anti aspirational and i think that's why, as jonathan would probably agree with and would probably agree with me and why might not impact on why yes, it might not impact on an people across an awful lot of people across the in the of the country. but in the idea of having state involved in having the state involved in taking back something that people have worked hard for, that want to pass on that they just want to pass on to children and future

to their children and future generations. be generations. i think it will be a every conservative. >> yes, it is true that a lot of people inheritance tax. they people see inheritance tax. they view much disdain. let's view it with much disdain. let's say now the labour party, they're writing up their manifesto , working on their manifesto, working on their policy proposals , what they're policy proposals, what they're going to put to the country. i imagine , john, that they'll look imagine, john, that they'll look at the government and after the budget, whether if there are these big tax cuts, they'll point to public services not being in such a fit shape. how can the government balance for money public services, the nhs, the education system, the military, etc, etc. and also make these tax cuts? well you're absolutely right. >> that's the challenge that the government absolutely faces. and i of the budget, i think as part of the budget, there is talk in some of the newspapers today about having a spending review, year spending review, a three year spending review, a three year spending tie spending review, which would tie the effectively the hands effectively of the next , and that would next government, and that would be a decision then, if it is going the going to be, uh, well, the labour will have to decide labour party will have to decide whether commit those whether they commit to those conservative .

conservative spending proposals. you'll recall, and your viewers will 1997, gordon will know. back in 1997, gordon brown and tony made the brown and tony blair made the pledge would stick to pledge that they would stick to john major's, uh, last budget and spending proposals because they wanted to offer economic certainty and assurance to markets and consumers and the british public. so whether this labour party under this leader, sir keir starmer, continues with whatever spending proposals comes forward under this current government, remains to be seen. but ultimately, you're absolutely know , we absolutely right. you know, we have a high tax burden have had such a high tax burden for a long period of time. a lot of down to covid. there of that is down to covid. there are issues have are a number of issues that have been identified because of covid within our public services that need to be addressed. so i think whilst there has been the investment, it is now right as we move beyond covid as we can offer tax cuts to people , that offer tax cuts to people, that there has to be within there has to be reform within those public services, particularly those big, bigger spending departments. >> of people will >> yes, a lot of people will say, the conservatives say, you know, the conservatives have in for rather have been in power for rather a long time now, and if they wanted to reform public services, would have done services, they would have done so now rather than months

so by now rather than months before the next general election. >> um, but isn't it the case, really, charlie , that whatever really, charlie, that whatever jeremy hunt does on march the 6th, whatever rabbits he manages to pull out of the hat, it's 6th, whatever rabbits he manages to pull out of the hat , it's not to pull out of the hat, it's not really going to have enough of an impact if you look at the polls at the moment. i mean, 20 points behind labour, it's a lost cause. charlie >> well, i would never say that, emily, as you know. and maybe that's because i'm a signed up to the cause , you know, to the cause, you know, government that i used to work in. that's a disclaimer for in. so that's a disclaimer for your there. sure your viewers there. i'm sure they know, but but they already know, but but but you're absolutely right. but i think, story the think, look, the story that the conservatives will have to tell versus who will versus the labour party who will say, just articulated, say, as you've just articulated, that been 13 that they've been in for 13 years, time for change. years, it's time for change. what the tories will have to years, it's time for change. wha i the tories will have to years, it's time for change. whai think, ries will have to years, it's time for change. whai think, is,. will have to years, it's time for change. whai think, is, look,have to years, it's time for change. whai think, is, look, goe to years, it's time for change. whai think, is, look, go back say, i think, is, look, go back to you five of to 2010. you had five years of a coalition. you know, we the coalition. you know, we were the government and government was held down and held pesky liberal held back by those pesky liberal democrats, as the tories would say. know, then had a few say. you know, we then had a few years of debate around brexit, which didn't allow perhaps the government to get on and do the things that it it might have

wanted you had covid wanted to do. you then had covid you've number of you've then had a number of successive ministers successive prime ministers because those issues. only because of those issues. only now , post—covid, only now with now, post—covid, only now with a growing economy, you have a former chancellor who is the now prime minister, who is set out five priorities . he's five clear priorities. he's delivering on halving inflation. we'll have to see where debt comes down. the economy is growing slowly but surely. but well, charlie , you know as well well, charlie, you know as well as that inflation is as i do that inflation is down across western world and europe. >> it may not be down to jeremy hunt though. policies could have made it worse, that's for sure. just last while i've got you, um , uh, keir starmer , he's putting , uh, keir starmer, he's putting together some kind of policy to rival the rwanda plan , which rival the rwanda plan, which isn't exactly taking off. uh, offshoring . do you think he'll offshoring. do you think he'll come up with something in time for the manifesto? >> no , because i think what >> no, because i think what people in this country want to see is a strong deterrent . you see is a strong deterrent. you know, the whole point of brexit and what people right across this country care about is this country do care about is fairness. about

fairness. but it was about taking back of own taking back control of our own borders . and we know that borders. and we know that migration , illegal migration in migration, illegal migration in particular, is a issue that's happening right across western europe. you don't just appear in france , in calais and arrive at france, in calais and arrive at dover , uh, through a small boat dover, uh, through a small boat crossing. people made crossing. people have made a journey europe , journey right across europe, which need to work which means you need to work with counterparts to, with european counterparts to, yes, but yes, prevent that journey, but also , you know, when people do also, you know, when people do come country come into this country illegally, you do need a deterrent . you do to stop deterrent. you do need to stop those coming over. you those boats coming over. you need those numbers need to reduce those numbers whilst up those whilst breaking up those criminal not as easy criminal gangs. it's not as easy as to just say that we'll identify you at a foreign border and process a claim there. that won't enough . and i just won't be enough. and i just appeal to people to recognise that. look, this is a very, very difficult that any difficult issue that any government and any party will have to grapple with. but, you know, the have to grapple with. but, you know, office the have to grapple with. but, you know, office people the have to grapple with. but, you know, office people at he have to grapple with. but, you know, office people at border home office and people at border force, remain, force, they will always remain, i'm say at times the i'm afraid to say at times the same. this was something same. so if this was something that have been done, i'm that could have been done, i'm sure would have been sure it would have been explored. would be explored. it would already be up and it is and running. so i think it is a i'm say it won't work i'm afraid to say it won't work by labour party. and i think by the labour party. and i think they eventually see

they will eventually have to see and people will see for themselves that well, course themselves that well, of course themselves that well, of course the of course, for the conservatives of course, for rishi sunak, charlie, very difficult only a tiny, tiny difficult when only a tiny, tiny proportion of the public actually believe that the rwanda plan off the tarmac. plan will get off the tarmac. >> but thank you, as always, for your time. charlie rowley, former special adviser to michael nice to michael gove. always nice to speak to you. now you could start your new year with £10,000 in cash, a £500 shopping spree and a brand new iphone. sounds pretty good, right? well, here's how you can make all of those pnzes how you can make all of those prizes yours . prizes yours. >> time is ticking on your chance to become the very first winner of the great british giveaway and grab cash , tech and giveaway and grab cash, tech and a ton of treats. there's a stunning £10,000 in tax free cash. stunning £10,000 in tax free cash . what would you spend that cash. what would you spend that on? we'll also give you a tech update with a very latest iphone 15 pro max. and finally , we'll 15 pro max. and finally, we'll treat you to a shopping spree with £500 in vouchers to spend at the store of your choice for another chance to win the iphone.the another chance to win the iphone. the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84 902. text

cost £2 plus one standard network rate message , or post network rate message, or post your name and to number gb zero one, po box 8690. derby de192. uk only entrants must be 18 or oveh uk only entrants must be 18 or over. lines close at 5 pm. on friday the 5th of january. full terms and privacy notice at gb news. com forward slash win good luck . luck. >> well there you go. you've got to be in it to win it, so why not enter. but if you're travelling home after christmas it might be a lot harder. travelling home after christmas it might be a lot harder . as it might be a lot harder. as storm garrett sweeps across the uk, the met office is warning of wintry conditions. heavy rain, strong winds and disruption expected across the country. joining us now is gb news reporter jeff moody, who's in portsmouth . jeff, reporter jeff moody, who's in portsmouth .jeff, i must ask portsmouth. jeff, i must ask you, how's the weather? >> actually, it's not too bad at

the moment. it's pretty windy, but the rain is held off. but we are expecting worse to come very quickly . the worst hit will be quickly. the worst hit will be the south coast of england, and particularly along the english channel here. um, we're hearing that saying be extra that the rac is saying be extra careful as you make your journeys home from your christmas holidays. be careful of try to avoid road routes if you can, because in these strong winds there's a danger of trees coming down and they say to try and avoid coastal paths as well. we're hearing that the isle of wight ferry that goes from southampton over to the isle of wight, has been postponed for the day, as have the hovercraft that go just from over there and in portsmouth across to the island. they've been cancel as well. so we're also hearing that in gloucester the one of the bndgesis in gloucester the one of the bridges is closed there. that goes across into wales. so if you want to go to wales you have to go down to the prince of wales bridge and go across on the m4. plenty of weather

warnings in place. they will be clearing fairly early on from the south of england. it's not expected to last day. we're expected to last all day. we're expecting it to sort of sweep through afternoon by through this afternoon and by this evening things will be better. things are beginning better. but things are beginning to pick up considerably in wales, northern ireland and parts of scotland too. so if you are heading back from your your your christmas break, do be very careful on the roads pictures that we're just seeing of the choppy waters , as you certainly choppy waters, as you certainly should not be going for a dip because that is what people do at this time of year. >> isn't it for a thrill ? >> isn't it for a thrill? >> isn't it for a thrill? >> yes, that's right, it's certainly a good idea to avoid the water. i mean, down near portsmouth, where i am now, there are many, many beaches where people come and they go swimming all the time of the yeah swimming all the time of the year. you know, that the whole thing of after christmas a good way of sort of getting your health back on track after all that binge eating going that binge eating is going for a cold but uh, they are cold water dip. but uh, they are being warned to try and avoid

that if you possibly can at the moment, although moment, because although it doesn't the doesn't look too bad at the moment, is certainly getting moment, it is certainly getting choppy. todayit choppy. and by later on today it could a lot worse. could be a lot worse. >> we've some >> well, we've seen some pictures also from dover where it extremely choppy , it does look extremely choppy, very high waters. but thank you very high waters. but thank you very much, jeff moody, our gb news reporter from portsmouth, from a little blustery at portsmouth, i'd say now to discuss this further is meteorologist jim dale. jim, thank you very much for joining me. i hope you had a lovely , me. i hope you had a lovely, restful christmas . jim, how bad restful christmas. jim, how bad is this actually counting snowflakes or the lack of them? >> that's my job. no snowflakes. >> that's my job. no snowflakes. >> sadly, that's always a shame. we always have quite a it seems like we always have quite a mild christmas in this country, but it has been very stormy over recent weeks. are we experiencing more storms than normal? oh what a question. >> uh, okay. so the one we're getting at the moment, jarrett, is number seven on the list and the one we're going to get on new year's eve. you might not know it . uh, new year's eve. you might not know it. uh, is number eight.

that one's be called that one's going to be called henk comes be. and henk if it comes to be. and i think probably will be. so think it probably will be. so yeah , we're moving up in we're yeah, we're moving up in we're moving numbers certainly. moving up in numbers. certainly. now necessarily now i'm not necessarily attributing of to attributing all of these to climate change in any or climate change in any shape or form. sometimes they come as a natural storm and we're natural winter storm and we're only a month into winter. so there's plenty come. there's plenty of that to come. uh, jerry is i mean, jeff was uh, so jerry is i mean, jeff was down in portsmouth, the rains just to hit him, actually, just about to hit him, actually, um, in its fullness. but if you go further north. uh, yeah . to go further north. uh, yeah. to be honest with you, this is more of a northern and a coastal and a hill mountain storm than it is necessarily at lower levels. >> jim , i read i read that >> yes, jim, i read i read that it's only the, uh, the central section of the uk that doesn't have this wind warning . have this wind warning. >> yeah, more or less . you're >> yeah, more or less. you're correct. and the rain hasn't, hasn't even reached east anglia. and properly the southeast yet. so, uh, you're right. i think the further north you go, the further west you go, the more conditions are to conditions are going to be austere and difficult and hazardous. and if you go into scotland and if you're travelling on the a9, you're going to know about it, because

up snow the up there it is snow on the grampians, on highlands in grampians, on the highlands in and around those areas. so that's another another of that's another, another facet of storm jarrett. um, so yeah, this has rightly been called a storm for the amount of people that are travelling on the road and for the for the various hazards. it's bringing, but it it's actually bringing, but it probably is not in the, in the category of, of care. and earlier the year , jim, what earlier in the year, jim, what constitutes a storm. >> how windy does it have to get . oh it's jim there . looks like . oh it's jim there. looks like we've lost jim . maybe he's been we've lost jim. maybe he's been hit by a power cut. we were being warned that there might be some power cuts and mobile signal coverage might be affected . jim, is jim back ? no affected. jim, is jim back? no he's not, he's not. well let me know at home if you've been impacted by these weather warnings, it does look like a lot of britain is braced for some weather turmoil. you've got , uh, travellers warned of more delays, potentially hazardous

conditions. just when you don't needit conditions. just when you don't need it on your way back from the christmas holidays. of course, people will be travelling home, and that's the last thing you need. and you can't use the ferry from isle of wight either. can't use the ferry from isle of wight either . jim dale is back wight either. jim dale is back with believe . jim, you with us. i believe. jim, you weren't a power cut weren't impacted by a power cut i blew away . very good. i got blew away. very good. well, tell me , tell me what well, tell me, tell me what constitutes as a storm. what level of winds do we have to have before it's called a storm? >> yeah. it's a it's a really good question actually, because it's those the element of it's one of those the element of wind a variable thing wind is such a variable thing that can, you know, it can that you can, you know, it can be wrong if you like. be called wrong if you like. um, i once you get into severe i think once you get into severe gale to storm force winds, that's when i think the, the people in the cupboard at the met office come out and decide whether or not it's going to be a storm. it's always one a named storm. it's always one of those contentious issues . do of those contentious issues. do you name it? don't you name it? i it's best when you get i think it's best when you get many the road , many many people on the road, many people time many people on the road, many peyear time many people on the road, many peyear . time many people on the road, many peyear. is time many people on the road, many peyear. is that time many people on the road, many peyear. is that what's time many people on the road, many peyear. is that what's the ne of year. is that what's the naming of storms? does is

essentially put it in people's minds that there's something around them that you need to be aware of, and you need to take note of. and preventative action is good and is always a good thing. and i just mentioned the next one that comes on new year's eve. i'm just your just going to give your listeners viewers, um, listeners and your viewers, um, one little tip. and that is if you're going on new you're going anywhere on new year's at the way year's eve at the current way that this is moving storm henk , that this is moving storm henk, if it will be named, you need to go early to avoid the higher winds and the and the rain that comes in. so if you're planning to travel new year's eve, it is better that you travel early as you can to get to your destination and councils , if destination and councils, if you're listening in those christmas lights and other christmas tree lights and other things that might up, things that you might have up, you might want them down you might want to take them down in of if in the next couple of days. if what comes what i'm seeing is comes to fruition . fruition. >> could w-a w“ >> so we could have a rather severe nificant storm on new year's eve, which is, uh , year's eve, which is, uh, something to look forward to. thanks, jim for that advice. always great to speak . always great to speak. >> eight it will be. >> eight it will be. >> yeah. number eight, meteorologist jim dale, thank you. your time.

meteorologist jim dale, thank you. there your time. meteorologist jim dale, thank you. there you your time. meteorologist jim dale, thank you. there you g01r time. meteorologist jim dale, thank you. there you go .' time. meteorologist jim dale, thank you. there you go . newe. meteorologist jim dale, thank you. there you go . new year's well, there you go. new year's eve will bring yet another storm. storm hank , i think it storm. storm hank, i think it was now in a few minutes, we'll discuss rise in discuss the huge rise in shoplifting. i'm asking , why shoplifting. i'm asking, why aren't the police doing more to stop it? but first, let's get your news headlines with sam . your news headlines with sam. >> emily. thank you. good afternoon . it's 1231. >> emily. thank you. good afternoon . it's1231. the afternoon. it's 1231. the headunes afternoon. it's 1231. the headlines from the gb newsroom chancellor, jeremy hunt has announced the 2024 spring budget will be delivered on march 6th. it comes as reports have emerged that downing street is considering axing inheritance tax and reducing income tax. the move is one of a handful of attention grabbing pledges that number 10 hopes will boost rishi sunak's chances of a win. the housing secretary, michael gove, has also suggested to the times that the party will cut upfront costs for home owners. first time buyers and others looking to invest in property . that's in to invest in property. that's in a pre—election giveaway . a pre—election giveaway. thousands of travellers are

facing delays, meanwhile, or cancellations as storm garrett forces flights to be grounded earlier , 18 british airways earlier, 18 british airways flights at heathrow were axed. meanwhile multiple weather warnings are in place for wind and rain across the uk. our national reporter theo chikomba is on the dorset coast. there are yellow weather warnings across the uk in the south—east, south of the west, wales, northern ireland and scotland, but not the central part of the uk. >> this is due to storm garrett weather warnings in place until 6 pm. today. for those who are travelling in places in scotland, it's worth checking as some of the transport services have been disrupted today , so have been disrupted today, so it's worth checking before you travel and if you are heading on the roads, do expect speed restrictions due to the high wind levels . and if you're wind levels. and if you're travelling from southampton to the isle of wight, there are some minor disruptions and cancellations. passengers are being told to double check before they travel, as red funnel services are being

affected today. but again , those affected today. but again, those were the warnings. the yellow weather warnings are in place until 6 pm. and the number of people shopping in high street sales across the uk was down more than 20% on boxing day , more than 20% on boxing day, figures from mri software found that whilst footfall was up before 3:00 in the afternoon, it was significantly lower across the day as a whole. >> the group said the only location to experience an overall rise in high street visitors was in central london, and you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website , gbnews.com . website, gbnews.com. >> now this is shocking . the >> now this is shocking. the scale of the country's shoplifting epidemic has been laid bare. more than 200,000 shoplifting cases went unsolved in just 12 months. the liberal democrats, who have studied the statistics for england and wales , accused the government of totally failing to tackle a

growing crime epidemic. they're not wrong, are they? i'm joined by former scotland yard detective peter bleksley peter, great to speak to you. what on earth is going on here? 200,000 cases unsolved . cases unsolved. >> and i'm entirely confident in saying that there are many, many other cases , liz, that do not other cases, liz, that do not feature as part of these statistics because these shopkeepers that i talk to have, quite frankly, given up on getting any kind of police response. so they manifestly do not report the cases because they see it as a complete and utter waste of time . utter waste of time. >> yes. well, i'm not surprised . >> yes. well, i'm not surprised. but what impact does this have on retail staff and business owners? because we often talk about shoplifting as though it's about shoplifting as though it's a victimless crime or it's a low level crime, but it must have a huge impact, not least when it comes to being. well, fear also the bottom line. of course it costs these businesses huge amounts of money. we've seen billions being lost to shoplift ,

billions being lost to shoplift, but also the fear factor is probably quite scary knowing that people are going to come in every day trying to nick things. >> you've highlighted one of the really important aspects that runs parallel with this story, and that is assaults on retail staff and security staff over 800 retail staff. yes . 800 are 800 retail staff. yes. 800 are assaulted every single day. and of course, that is utterly scandal s on many, many levels . scandal s on many, many levels. and unfortunately, some major retailers in struct their staff now not at to intervene with shoplifting because the risk of assault is so high and therefore some staff follow these non—intervention policies of security staff. so when you put all of these factors together, essentially what we have is a shoplifters charter and we see thieves entering stores

repeatedly and just help themselves with impunity , with themselves with impunity, with nobody wanting to challenge and quite frankly, no kind of police response. if the retailers pick up the phone and dial 999 and peter have the people who are perpetrating this crime changed, are we looking at more organised gangs or are we looking at more opportunists? >> there is some complexity to the demographic that commit all this crime. >> some people claim to be doing it out of poverty because they can't afford various things . you can't afford various things. you might see young mothers , for might see young mothers, for example, saying that they're stealing a baby milk because they can't afford it. there are undoubtedly organised crime gangs who steal to order and do this for a living, and we see them quite often on cctv or footage that's filmed by public spirited people on their phones , spirited people on their phones, where these thieves just enter stores and help themselves . the stores and help themselves. the

major retailers this year, tesco, co—op and others have implored the government to do something . in other words, to something. in other words, to stick their boot up the rear end of the police service of this country and some have listened. but when we hear figures trailed that charge is have increased to an hour three times what they used to be. well, that really is no comfort whatsoever, because the previous figure was so lamentable , low and remains as lamentable, low and remains as punishingly way beneath what it should be. >> and peter, what should the penalty be for shoplift ing? >> it's all about deterrence . >> it's all about deterrence. yes, there should be deterrence. if the police patrolled the streets and formed some kind of visible deterrent , that would visible deterrent, that would help if courts handed out suitable punishments instead of so often giving non—custodial sentences. community orders and the like, which are frequently ignored and tend too often to be just a waste of time and fortunately, all of this

contributes to the far bigger issue and that is that our police are becoming increasingly erelli's avant with regards to the crimes that affect the moderate mainstream of britain. and that, of course, is deeply worrying. >> yes, because if you're making hundreds of pounds a day, which i believe some shoplifters can and are a bit of community service isn't necessarily going to put you off when you're making profit. is it? making such a profit. is it? absolutely >> and this on the back of >> and this comes on the back of instructions handed down instructions being handed down to . in fact, to the courts. and in fact, legislation pushed through legislation being pushed through parliament that will parliament no less, that will lead to people receiving lead to less people receiving a sentence of 12 months or shorter . there has to be deterrence . if . there has to be deterrence. if the possibility of running into that police officer as you legged it out of the store with your stolen goods, was there . so your stolen goods, was there. so that would help. if all retail staff, security staff had positive intervention policies whereby they detained people they were suitably trained in they were suitably trained in the law and they were suitably

robust in their attitudes . that robust in their attitudes. that would help if shops were willing to assist the police in prosecutions. if we have more police officers, of course, that would help. but quite frankly, at the moment, these kind of dreadful statistics just go to show that we are living in an increasingly lawless country and we all suffer as a result of that. and peter, do you think we've got a broader cultural societal issue that often youngsters feel they're going to get away with crime or they don't care for authority ? obe don't care for authority? obe yes , i think that is part of the yes, i think that is part of the problem. and i also fear that we have kind of a millennial generation now who have become so used to becoming victims of crime themselves , or knowing crime themselves, or knowing people that are victims of crime amongst their their peer groups and their friends, that there's almost an acceptance amongst many , many people in this many, many people in this country that crime is just something that happens , is something that happens, is something that happens, is something you will inevitably

become a victim of. and of course, crime irritates an old school copper like me. and it used to irritate many of my colleagues . and until we get colleagues. and until we get back to having a mindset that crime is unacceptable, crime will not be tolerated. criminals will not be tolerated. criminals will be prosecuted and suitably punished, then this matter is only going to get worse. >> well, i'm not sure anyone can disagree with that. thank you very much. peter bexley, former scotland yard detective. thank you your time. strong staff. you for your time. strong staff. it is absolutely incredible that 200,000 shoplifting cases went unsolved in just 12 months. and as peter says, those are just the ones that have been found there may be hundreds of thousands more cases that haven't even been reported. let me know if you've been impacted or your area has been impacted. gb views at gb news dot com. now it's emerged that a robot attack at an engineer in the united states. it was an incident that left a trail of blood. we'll get

stuck into that, find out more. i'm emily carver, this is good afternoon britain on gb news. britain's news

on gb news, the people's channel on gb news, the people's channel, britain's news channel . channel, britain's news channel. >> well, welcome . back. it's >> well, welcome. back. it's 1242 in the afternoon. i'm emily carver and you're watching. good afternoon britain gb news now afternoon britain on gb news now at 1:00 i'll be discussing labour's plans to tackle the small boats crisis . ipsis. small boats crisis. ipsis. that's as a government minister criticises sir keir starmer for not having a plan when the government at least does have the rwanda plan. we've heard some rumours about keir starmer looking at offshore processing. has he got anywhere with that? we'll find out. but if you're worried by the increased use of artificial intelligence and robots, this story won't do much to calm those fears . a tesla to calm those fears. a tesla engineer was attacked by a robot in an incident that reportedly left a trail of blood. the robot

is said to have sunk its metal claws into the workers back, and arm. scary stuff. i'm joined by ai expert andrew wyborn. andrew, this is like something out of a horror movie. it's certainly is, isn't it? >> and the joy of joining you in this sort of gets spoilt by this sort of story, doesn't it? it is the nightmares . the the stuff of nightmares. the texas chainsaw massacre is what the headline would sort of have you believe, but actually it broke the times a little bit broke in the times a little bit earlier today , so didn't quite earlier today, so didn't quite make papers. and actually, if you dig deeper into the you dig a bit deeper into the story, it here. story, i've got it here. they say the accident is say basically the accident is the recorded at the the latest recorded at the company's gigafactory, company's tesla gigafactory, which in texas , and 21 which is indeed in texas, and 21 workers out of every 21 one workers out of every 21 one worker is injured last year. but if you dig a bit deeper, what actually happened ? the robot actually happened? the robot itself was designed to move aluminium car parts and was supposed to be turned off while one of the workers did some maintenance. it wasn't turned off. so it's not the headline that people talk about where it's a machine attacking the

worker . it's a it's a machine attacking the worker. it's a normal sort of situation , which is an situation, which is an industrial as a result industrial injury. as a result of the machine not being turned off. story off. so andrew, this is a story about human failure. it is totally human and as you totally human error. and as you know, back to the futurists. know, i back to the futurists. i talk around world advocating talk around the world advocating the ai and robotics the benefits of ai and robotics and how we should embrace it because it's going to make everybody's life a lot easier. what find with any what you tend to find with any new erg you get lot new technology erg you get a lot of who scaremongering of people who are scaremongering , saying they're doing, , saying and what they're doing, they're around , saying and what they're doing, they saying, around , saying and what they're doing, theysaying, about,ound , saying and what they're doing, they saying, about, these and saying, hang about, these machines to go rise of machines are going to go rise of the going come machines are going to go rise of the attack going come machines are going to go rise of the attack gget] come machines are going to go rise of the attack gget rid come machines are going to go rise of the attack gget rid of�*me machines are going to go rise of the attack gget rid of all and attack us and get rid of all our . well, certainly, ourjobs. well, certainly, i mean, goldman sachs said about 300 million our will be 300 million of our jobs will be lost to ai. at the same lost to ai. but at the same time, there are tremendous benefits. i always basically say that i if you like, it's our greatest human achievement, but also potentially the biggest existential threat . but what we existential threat. but what we need to do is put the facts , do need to do is put the facts, do a little bit more light shine light and less heat. i say on the story. so this is not a story ai turning bad. it's story about al turning bad. it's about human error. >> well hang on andrew. now i'm

not going to keeps me up not going to say it keeps me up at that would be at night because that would be exaggerating. worry exaggerating. but i do worry sometimes that al because sometimes about that al because these robots do they not learn exponentially . they learn in a exponentially. they learn in a different way than us. aren't they already more clever than we are? >> oh, without doubt . >> oh, without doubt. >> oh, without doubt. >> chatgpt, which celebrated its first birthday hurrah in november this year. can you believe it? they worked out that it's already passing bar exams. it's already passing medical exams, but chatting to chatgpt is supposed to be better than chatting to your gp because you can get an appointment, it's more empathetic and so on and so forth . also, there's been forth. also, there's been seismic developments and advances in medicine, lots of diseases are being cured as a result of artificial intelligence, and i predict that what's going to happen as well is you're going to get much more fake news. as you know, do fake news. as you know, i do this feature here on this regular feature here on this regular feature here on this channel called this glorious channel called fake fact reborns fake or fake or fact and reborns fake or fact. and we look at a lot of those stories. and think those stories. and if you think about fake videos, talk

about fake videos, you talk about fake videos, you talk about of , uh, artificial about sort of, uh, artificial created images. there's going to be lots of that , especially as be lots of that, especially as next year we're going to have at least election here, probably least an election here, probably as well us. expect as well as in the us. so expect to lot more of those. yes to see a lot more of those. yes it could definitely have an impact democracy, that's impact on our democracy, that's for but hang some >> but hang on, aren't some of these the likes of these ai boffins the likes of elon musk actually warning hang on there, let's slow down with this. we're not sure what we're creating because if we're creating because if we're creating that more creating bots that are more clever than us, well, only few clever than us, well, only a few steps away from them taking oveh over. >> oveh >> no, absolutely. and i'm a musketeer. i often a lot of people have a go at elon. and he came the great first came over to the great first ever worldwide ai safety summit, which we had right here in the uk at bletchley park, the home of where they cracked the enigma code. and basically they said, absolutely, you have to understand the technology and make sure are these make sure there are these safeguards place to make that safeguards in place to make that make sense. so absolutely, the way we're going to do. work out what technology do, work way we're going to do. work out th’how technology do, work way we're going to do. work out th’ how we :hnology do, work way we're going to do. work out th’ how we :hno harness do, work way we're going to do. work out th’ how we :hno harness it.», work way we're going to do. work out th’ how we :hno harness it. but»rk out how we can harness it. but beware the risks as well .

beware of the risks as well. >> so yes, well, what are the other risks that people are talking people are talking about? people are talking about? people are talking being in talking about al being used in war, in conflict. and that that could lead to very, very damaging consequences. >> well, they always say and again, in the andrew gwynne fake or fact, we've been looking at lots of these stories. the first casualty in a war is always the truth . and whilst there are truth. and whilst there are horrendous images coming out of not but also ukraine, not just gaza but also ukraine, still a lot of those are artificially generated . i'll artificially generated. i'll give you an example. within 48 hours, i think it was of the atrocity and a terrorist attack on the seventh. what happened is basically there were about 50 million, 50 million posts on social media, a lot of them using artificial images , whether using artificial images, whether they were artificially created , they were artificially created, showing people in rubble and so on.and showing people in rubble and so on. and so forth, or actually what call invented ones what they call invented ones where they've got using old footage and relabelling it. so you have to the best thing i would advise everybody is question . there's question everything. there's going to be a lot of false information. drowning a

information. we're drowning in a sea information, most of sea of information, most of which false. which is false. >> well, there you go. a warning from andrew eborn to not believe all that you read or see. it could be done by a bot. thank you very much indeed. ai expert andrew eborn always fantastic to talk to you. now lots of you have been getting in touch about shoplift . eating in particular. shoplift. eating in particular. it clearly is impacting you on your high street . at least julie your high street. at least julie has in. says my has written in. she says my niece works in a clothes boutique in ipswich, regularly subjected raids by romanian subjected to raids by romanian gangs who just help themselves and run out again. this is organised do organised crime. the police do nothing, she says. the stores are getting tougher to employ security . she says they security staff. she says they should arrested, charged and should be arrested, charged and deported if they're not from this country. strong stuff, but a lot of people would agree with you, ian catch them and you, ian says. catch them and well, i'm not going to read that out . it's a little bit rude, but out. it's a little bit rude, but let's he wants let's just say he wants tough, tough penalties for those who are nicking things in shops. lots more coming in. please do keep them coming in. gb views at

gb news. com let me know if you or your family have been impacted by shoplifting. think impacted by shoplifting. i think it's not an exaggeration to say that become somewhat of that it has become somewhat of an epidemic. and also let me know while you're at it, whether andrew wyborn has allayed your fears about artificial intelligence , or whether you're intelligence, or whether you're a little bit worried, like me, that they're getting a little a little bit worried, like me, thatoo ey're getting a little a little bit worried, like me, thatoo into getting a little a little bit worried, like me, thatoo into it,tting a little a little bit worried, like me, thatoo into it, letg a little a little bit worried, like me, thatoo into it, let me little a little bit worried, like me, thatoo into it, let me know. bit too into it, let me know. vaiews@gbnews.com. but the escalating conflict in the middle east has sparked fears of a second cost of living crisis in britain , experts have told gb in britain, experts have told gb news as more drones are intercepted over the red sea, there are fresh warnings that oil shipments could cease, leading to a sharp rise in inflation. joining me now to discuss this is gb news reporter charlie peters . charlie, what's charlie peters. charlie, what's been happening overnight in the region and how crucially could this impact brits. well it's been a very busy period in the gulf, especially surrounding areas in the red sea and indeed in israel and gaza over the christmas period.

>> on monday , on christmas day, >> on monday, on christmas day, there was an attack on us forces in iraq on a base in the north in iraq on a base in the north in erbil in kurdistan and they responded with strikes on kata'ib hezbollah , a kata'ib hezbollah, a paramilitary group in the country. after three us, us service personnel were injured, one of them critically and then yesterday we also had reports from the us that they had intercepted some 12 missiles and assets fired by the houthis and iran backed militia in yemen, fired into the red sea, possibly at commercial shipping, also potentially heading north towards israel . towards israel. >> so a significant escalation in the conflict there, with the us launching just their fourth retaliatory strike on those iran backed militias , they face over backed militias, they face over 100 attacks since the war started on october. the seventh, and experts have warned gb news

this morning that this could lead to a second cost of living crisis . if lead to a second cost of living crisis. if this lead to a second cost of living crisis . if this escalation crisis. if this escalation continues . that precarious continues. that precarious shipping lane from the suez canal down into to the red sea is where many of the world's goods transfer , as nearly $35 goods transfer, as nearly $35 billion worth of goods were diverted in the week before christmas due to these escalating naval pressures that fear did ease in the christmas period, when the us led naval coalition operation prosperity guardian was deployed to that area. however it has lacked full international support. many arab countries not providing assets. the french and the spanish reportedly not keen to be under full american command. and so the americans are dealing with the americans are dealing with the bulk of that threat. the houthis do pose a significant risk to commercial shipping . bp risk to commercial shipping. bp and maersk have both halted their shipping routes through their shipping routes through the strait of hormuz into the

red sea, and if that continues , red sea, and if that continues, and if these rocket attacks continue on commercial shipping, as we've seen in the last 48 hours, then there is a realistic possibility that further inflationary hits could occur back home in britain . back home in britain. >> yeah. so, charlie, just as the government are celebrating inflation being halved, inflation being halved, inflation gone down, we could actually see it go right back up. if this continues. >> that's right. and there's no indication at this time that the houthis are going to slow down their efforts. they are retaliating against what they describe as a blockade in gaza and the israeli war there. last night, herzi halevy , the idf night, herzi halevy, the idf chief of staff, said that the war would last for many months , war would last for many months, indicating that israel is not prepared to let up, suggesting that if that continues, the second order effects will be more missiles, more drone attacks , and more conflict in attacks, and more conflict in the red sea, with commercial shipping and indeed british lives and interests at risk. but we could soon be feeling the

effects of that in our pockets too. >> yes, it does look like this may well be a prolonged war in the middle east, that's for sure. thank you very much. charlie peters, our gb news reporter, bringing us the very latest from the middle east. well, sir keir starmer, he's come under fire from a government minister over labour's plans to tackle the migrant crisis. labour's plans to tackle the migrant crisis . ipsis. so what migrant crisis. ipsis. so what are his plans? we've heard about smashing the criminal gangs. of course we have , which the course we have, which the government would say they're also trying to do. we've heard about more cooperation with the european union. will we see that 7 european union. will we see that ? and now we're hearing about offshore processing , but not a offshore processing, but not a deportation plan like rwanda. i'm emily carver, this is good afternoon britain on gb news. britain's news channel looks like things are heating up . like things are heating up. >> boxt boilers sponsor of weather on gb news is . weather on gb news is. >> hello. it's aidan mcgivern

here from the met office with the gb news forecast . storm the gb news forecast. storm gareth is bringing strong winds and gales to much of the uk through the rest of the day. heavy rain and in some places heavy snowfall . all the garrett heavy snowfall. all the garrett moves across parts of north—west uk with its trailing weather fronts, bringing outbreaks of heavy rain and as that rain moves into cold air across northern scotland, some significant snow above 200m and some blizzards and drifting of that snow as well. 20cm plus over higher parts of northern scotland . heavy rain as well for scotland. heavy rain as well for many other parts of the uk, sweeping through followed by blustery showers and gales with 50 to 60 mile per hour wind gusts for southern coastal counties of england. western parts as well seeing 50 mile per hour wind gusts and the winds peaking across northern scotland later risk later in the day, with the risk of hour wind gusts, of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so some treacherous conditions of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so sthere treacherous conditions of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so sthere duringrous conditions of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so sthere during the conditions of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so sthere during the restiitions of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so sthere during the rest ofons out there during the rest of wednesday. it stays wednesday. overnight it stays blustery, with further showers coming in and the chance of 60 or even 70 mile per hour wind gusts in some of these showers

across western parts and of course, with the wind those course, with the wind and those showers, it's going to be generally free, but we'll generally frost free, but we'll continue to see some snow over the scotland those the hills of scotland in those showers. and then as we start off thursday , what really, it's showers. and then as we start ofverersday , what really, it's showers. and then as we start ofvery blusteryvhat really, it's showers. and then as we start ofvery blusteryvhat it'sly, it's showers. and then as we start ofvery blusteryvhat it's less's a very blustery day. it's less windy with wednesday , windy compared with wednesday, but still strong out but still a strong wind out there . frequent showers or there. frequent showers or longer spells rain . still longer spells of rain. still some hill snow across northern scotland, will be some scotland, but there will be some dner scotland, but there will be some drier and brighter interludes in between. the heavy showers . between. the heavy showers. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers , sponsors of boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> good afternoon britain. it is 1:00 on wednesday the 27th of december. starmer's migrant plan the labour leader told gb news last week that they could set up offshore asylum processing centres if they win the next election, but those plans have been criticised now by a government minister. will they work ? storm garrett chaos the work? storm garrett chaos the met office has issued nine yellow weather warnings across the uk as travellers are warned of potentially hazardous conditions on road and rail and trans preschoolers. official figures reveal more than 70 children aged just three and four have been sent to the controversial nhs transgender clinic should there be an age limit on referrals?

and get this the comedian ricky gervais has come under fire yet again. this is about his latest netflix special, which has been labelled by some as deeply problematic. a lot of what he says is deemed deeply problematic these days, but we'll find out why exactly now, later this hour. but before we get into that, let me know what you think. also about all the stories we've been discussing gb views at gb news.com. but first, let's get your news let's get your latest news headunes let's get your latest news headlines francis . headlines with sam francis. >> emily. thank you. good afternoon. i'm sam francis in the gb newsroom . the headlines the gb newsroom. the headlines at one. the chancellor jeremy hunt has announced the 2024 spnng hunt has announced the 2024 spring budget will be delivered on march the 6th. it could be his last chance to introduce

major tax and spending changes before the next general election . well, it comes as reports have emerged that downing street could axe inheritance tax and reduce income tax . the move is reduce income tax. the move is just one of a handful of attention grabbing pledges that number 10 hopes will boost rishi sunak's chances of win. sunak's chances of a win. meanwhile secretary, meanwhile the housing secretary, michael , has hinted at a michael gove, has hinted at a pre—election , pre—election giveaway, suggesting that party will suggesting that the party will cut for time cut costs for first time homebuyers . thousands of homebuyers. thousands of travellers are facing delays or cancellations as storm gerrit forces flights to be grounded. earlier, 18 british airways flights were axed from heathrow. meanwhile multiple weather warnings are in place for wind and rain across the uk . our and rain across the uk. our national reporter theo chikomba is on the dorset coast. there are yellow weather warnings across the uk in the south—east, south of the west wales, northern ireland and scotland, but not the central part of the uk. >> this is due to storm garrett weather warnings in place until 6 pm. today. for those who are

travelling in places in scotland, it's worth checking as some of the transport services have been disrupted today , so have been disrupted today, so it's worth checking before you travel. and if you are heading on the roads, do expect speed restrictions due to the high wind levels . and if you're wind levels. and if you're travelling from southampton to the isle of wight , there are the isle of wight, there are some minor disruptions and cancellations. passengers being told to double check before they travel as red funnel services are being affected today. but again, those were the warnings . again, those were the warnings. the yellow weather warnings are in place until 6 pm. >> hospital car parking fees in england have risen more than 50% in the last year. that's according to new figures. visitors and patients spent £146 million for parking in 2022 to 23. that's the equivalent of £400,000 spent in car parks every day. the data, which was uncovered by the liberal democrats, also found that parking fees paid by hospital staff has soared more than eight fold. it's up from 5.6 million

to more than £46 million in now . to more than £46 million in now. if you're into your wine, you will be soon able to buy new pint sized bottles of still or sparkling wine as part of new post brexit freedoms. the new size will appear on supermarket shelves as well as pubs, clubs and in restaurants. the government says the move will offer more flexibility and choice for customers. champagne pint bottles were sold in the uk until 1973, when britain joined the european common market, but it stopped as they didn't comply with eu weights and measures . with eu weights and measures. parliamentary under—secretary for business kevin hollinrake says the move will benefit everyone. well he's really important change. >> we used to be able to buy pints of champagne in bottles and wine for example, before joining the european union , so joining the european union, so i think it's an opportunity for innovation. churchill's favourite size of bottle. he said it was the right size for lunch for two or for dinner for one. so um, so i think it's a nice innovation and something we

can do now. we left the european union. >> well, more than 200,000 shoplifting cases went unsolved in the space of just a year. new figures show only around 15% of the 362,000 cases were said to have resulted in a suspect being charged . the liberal democrats, charged. the liberal democrats, who studied the figures , have who studied the figures, have accused the government of failing to tackle what they call an epidemic . failing to tackle what they call an epidemic. the home office spokes home office spokes a home office spokeswoman, charging rates spokeswoman, said charging rates for are by almost for shoplifting are up by almost a third in the past year , and a third in the past year, and the number of people shopping in high street sales across the uk was down by more than 20% on boxing , figures from mri boxing day, figures from mri software found that whilst footfall was up before 3:00 in the afternoon, it was significantly lower across the day as a whole. the group said the only location to experience an overall rise in high street visitors was in central london. this is gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, digital radio and on your smart speaker now though. more from . emily

though. more from. emily >> welcome back to good afternoon britain with me, emily carver. now we start with sir keir starmer. carver. now we start with sir keir starmer . this hour he's keir starmer. this hour he's come under fire again over labour's plans to tackle the migrant crisis. now keir starmer told gb news last week that he'd consider setting up offshore processing centres to deal with the surge in small boats crossings. but the for minister countering illegal immigration, michael tomlinson's tomlinson, says that is not a deterrent to stop the boats and simply will not work. and the former minister, brendan clarke—smith, has accused starmer of yet more flip flops . so let's dig into flip flops. so let's dig into the detail here. i'm joined by gb news political correspondent olivia hartley. now it was last week, i believe, that sir keir starmer told christopher hope, our political editor, that they were considering offshore processing , also talking about processing, also talking about smashing the gangs. and we've

heard also about more cooperation with europe. will that or will that not work offshore processing, is that a change of tune from the labour party ? well it is a bit of party? well it is a bit of a change of tune from the labour party. >> keir starmer is now under a lot of pressure to get his ducks in a row on illegal migration, as it were, a few months ago. he he announced the sort of bare bones of his plan for tackling the problem , which was a returns the problem, which was a returns agreement with the eu. now what that would entail is migrants who come to britain's shores illegally from france would be sent back to france, but in exchange , the uk would be exchange, the uk would be obuged exchange, the uk would be obliged to accept a quota of migrants who arrive on the eu's shores now, because the britain is quite a highly populated country compared to some of the other 27, that quota could end up being higher than the number of migrants who we are accepting at the moment. so keir starmer

got a lot of criticism for that . got a lot of criticism for that. since then, he's been trying to sort of find and tweak that plan . and last week, as you say, he came up with this idea that he would process migrants offshore . would process migrants offshore. for now. he made it very clear that in his mind at least, processing migrants offshore is different to the rwanda policy that rishi sunak has developed under rishi sunak's plan, migrants would not be able to come back to the uk even if their asylum claim was granted. they would be given leave to settle in rwanda if their asylum leave was granted. if it isn't, they would be sent back to their home country. keir starmer says that under his plan, migrants could be processed offshore, though not in rwanda. he says that he wants to rip up that plan. if their plan. uh, but then if their claim was accepted, they would be allowed to come back to the uk. conservatives are suggesting that that wouldn't end up actually being a deterrent. it is a bit of a departure from what we've heard from keir starmer before. he has been very, previously that very, very clear previously that he that the rwanda policy is,

uh, terrible, essentially. and that he would want to rip it up completely whether a different kind of offshore processing counts as ripping up completely sort of remains to be seen. >> yes , olivia, it's quite >> yes, olivia, it's quite difficult for rishi sunak the prime minister to land a punch against sir keir starmer on the issue of immigration and the issue of immigration and the issue of immigration and the issue of illegal immigration, because, of course, the rwanda plan is yet to take off from the tarmac . so quite difficult tarmac. so it's quite difficult for rishi sunak to criticise the labour leader for not having a working plan . working plan. >> well, absolutely. and we are expecting the rwanda policy to be bogged down in the house of commons for a very long time and then, of course, it will get to then, of course, it will get to the lords and then we can expect it probably end up getting it will probably end up getting to courts at the end of the to the courts at the end of the last parliamentary terme. i was in parliament watching that first proper rwanda , first proper debate on rwanda, and there were plenty of conservative mps from the right of the party. mainly, though, the left of the party also had

concerns policy. those concerns about the policy. those from the right of party from the right of the party agreed to support the rwanda bill the second but bill at the second stage, but made it very, very clear that come the third stage, come the report stage , which we report stage, which we can expect to be put forward in january february at the january or february at the latest, they will start, uh, making complaints , making making complaints, making amendments, and we could end up in a situation where we reach a sort of ping pong place where it gets passed in the commons, it goes the lords. lords goes to the lords. the lords disagree. back to the disagree. it goes back to the commons, no commons, and essentially no flight will take off. pretty much certainly before next much certainly before the next general , which, as you general election, which, as you say, it very, very say, makes it very, very difficult for rishi to difficult for rishi sunak to land blow on keir starmer, land any blow on keir starmer, which is a real shame for the conservatives, because conservatives, actually, because because illegal immigration is probably the area where labour is weakest at the moment. this returns agreement from with the eu is not likely to gain many, uh, applause edits from the public, given that it could end up with us accepting more migrants than currently are . migrants than we currently are. keir starmer said that he's going to. he wants to smash up

the people smuggling gangs with the people smuggling gangs with the france . well, yes, the help of france. well, yes, the help of france. well, yes, the would argue the conservatives would argue that's exactly what they've been trying for the last 13 trying to do for the last 13 years. as for the rest of years. and as for the rest of keir starmer's policy , it's keir starmer's policy, it's actually pretty similar to the conservatives sort of conservatives some sort of offshore processing, said offshore processing, he said that keep the barges that he would keep the barges and temporary accommodation that the conservatives have set up for migrants to stay in for allowing migrants to stay in the while their claims the country while their claims are processed. so it is are being processed. so it is a bit of a patchy record that labour has so far on a legal migration. but as you say , migration. but as you say, there's not much the conservatives can do that . conservatives can do with that. >> and olivia, i right in >> and olivia, am i right in thinking starmer thinking that sir keir starmer said not too long ago that even if rwanda plan were to get if the rwanda plan were to get off the ground and were even off the ground and were to even work , he'd still scrap it . off the ground and were to even work , he'd still scrap it. he did. >> he absolutely said that. and he has been vehemently against the rwanda plan from day one. every single labour mp, uh, voted against it. so to hear now that he is considering offshore processing , though, he does make processing, though, he does make that distinction that migrants

who who have their claim accepted would be allowed to return to the uk is quite an interesting turn up for the books. >> yes it is. well, thank you very much indeed. olivia utley, our political correspondent , our political correspondent, joining us from westminster. thank your thank you, olivia, for your time as i'm joined by as always. now i'm joined by kevin who a former kevin maher, who is a former labour advisor and is also the associate editor of labour uncut. thank you very much for joining me. i hope you had a lovely christmas break like i did emily. >> i hope you did too. >> i hope you did too. >> thank you. i did, um, i was here actually. but anyway . here actually. but anyway. kevin. so . labour they sometimes kevin. so. labour they sometimes tie themselves a little bit in knots over immigration. there are people in the party who are very comfortable with high levels of immigration. quite a relaxed asylum system. keir starmer has to prove to the electorate that he can be trusted on getting tough on immigration, in particular illegal immigration. ian, what do we know about this offshore processing ? processing? >> well, you're right, i mean,

immigration is at the top of voters concerns. it has been for quite some time. it has been probably for most of the last 20 years. it waxes and wanes a little bit. but but it's a constant really if you're constant and really if you're a party of government, um, an aspirant party of government, you've got to address that. you've got to you've got meet you've got to address that. you public to you've got meet you've got to address that. you public to youthey ot meet you've got to address that. you public to youthey are meet you've got to address that. you public to youthey are andeet the public where they are and the public where they are and the public where they are and the public is very concerned about the levels of migration that we've got in the country , that we've got in the country, the effects that has in terms of, in terms of, in terms of the culture of the country, the composition of the country, but also the kind problems also the kind of acute problems that, um, that can be brought around by access to housing, access to public services and the fact that we know, we know a country a pretty small country with people it and with 67 million people on it and rising . so you've to have rising. so you've got to have a credible position on immigration and as we've seen over the last few years with with the kind of the trickle of people coming across the channel inflatable across the channel in inflatable boats, their lives to do boats, risking their lives to do so in the clutches of people traffickers the rest traffickers and all the rest of it . it's problem has

it. but it's a problem that has to and it's got to be dealt with, and it's got to be dealt with, and it's got to be dealt with, and it's got to be seen as a problem that you have with deal with have to deal with and deal with directly. and this is a litmus test, really , for labour and its test, really, for labour and its credibility to govern. and this won't be lost on keir starmer. and it's not lost on his frontbench because got and it's not lost on his frocome ch because got and it's not lost on his frocome upbecause got and it's not lost on his frocome up withjse got and it's not lost on his frocome up with workable got to come up with workable proposals that can convince the pubuc proposals that can convince the public that they will be able to be effective than the be more effective than the government the moment . government is at the moment. it's difficult and it's fiendishly difficult and anybody that thinks being home secretary you it's secretary, um, you know, it's not political point, but not a political point, but anybody who thinks that being not a political point, but anyboisecretaryinks that being not a political point, but anyboisecretary is;s that being not a political point, but anyboisecretary is an 1at being not a political point, but anyboisecretary is an easyaing not a political point, but anyboisecretary is an easy job is home secretary is an easy job is deluding it's an deluding themselves. it's no an incredibly job to incredibly difficult job to deliver because are hemmed deliver because you are hemmed in really sides . and, you in really on all sides. and, you know, i suspect labour people are looking some the are looking at some of the travails of suella braverman and priti patel and, and what have you in recent years and thinking, look, know, thinking, look, you know, actually facing some thinking, look, you know, ac'these facing some thinking, look, you know, ac'these very facing some thinking, look, you know, ac'these very same facing some thinking, look, you know, ac'these very same difficult some of these very same difficult issues we're. of these very same difficult isleeah.we're. of these very same difficult isleeah. because kevin so far >> yeah. because kevin so far it's appeared as though the labour party aren't comfortable with the word deterrent or the concept of a deterrent. we've heard instead that keir starmer

will focus on smashing the criminal gangs the government also say they're doing that. they say more cooperation with europe . again, the government europe. again, the government say they also want to do that. do they consider offshore processing to be a type of deterrent ? deterrent? >> absolutely they do. and this is this is the paradox really that it doesn't matter whether you play for the red team or the blue team, the fact is you're still dealing with the same very, difficult issues with very, very difficult issues with with some fairly blunt instruments to try and address these problems . and is very, these problems. and it is very, very difficult. be very difficult. it would be difficult labour difficult for a labour government, just as it's difficult for this conservative government i think government as well. so i think i think point one almost to think point one almost is not to try and sound as though you've got simple magic bullet that's got a simple magic bullet that's going this problem at going to address this problem at source and deal with it to the pubuc source and deal with it to the public satisfaction, because you don't have that ability to do that. lots of small that. really it's lots of small micro measures trying to kind of pull cut down pull pull cut down on the pull factors that pull large numbers of migrants to this country and address those, and also address

the push factors that are driving tens of millions of people, hundreds of millions of people, hundreds of millions of people from the places of where where they're born into the west , into europe. we've got to address that as well. and that's where it becomes fiendishly difficult, because that's an issue global inequality. issue of global inequality. and the that there's so many the fact that there's so many places the world where people places in the world where people want to get out there because want to get out of there because the and their the standard of living and their lives pretty wretched lives are pretty wretched there. and things in the west and they see things in the west and well, if it's and think, well, even if it's tough better tough for me, it's still better than got . so we've got than what i've got. so we've got to those push factors to address those push factors as well, that well, and we've got to do that in concert with all our international the international partners. the european union, america, the west , to be able to do that west, to be able to do that effectively because, you know, what point what we're seeing at this point is compared to what we is nothing compared to what we may seeing five, ten, 15 may be seeing in five, ten, 15 years time. >> sure you're right . >> yes, i'm sure you're right. but, um, kevin, you think but, um, kevin, do you think that starmer will actually that keir starmer will actually make some policies to reduce use, legal migration ? do you use, legal migration? do you think he's comfortable doing that ? will think he's comfortable doing that? will his think he's comfortable doing that ? will his backbench mp that? will his backbench mp support him on making some tough decisions when it comes to

getting those numbers down? >> i think so . you know, one of >> i think so. you know, one of the big talk talking points of this, this forthcoming general election is going to be the red wall. you know, the so—called red wall, all those sort of wants you know, labour citadels in the north of england and in the east and west midlands. the conservatives it so conservatives captured it so effectively in the 2019 election, partly because of brexit, partly because of boris, partly because of perhaps jeremy corbyn as well, a bit of a mixture of all three, really. so, of conservative mps so, so lots of conservative mps in where labour has to in seats where labour has got to win these places back, it's got to them back wholesale, it's to win them back wholesale, it's got a huge number of got to win a huge number of parliamentary seats back . and parliamentary seats back. and people in these kinds of constituencies , and particularly constituencies, and particularly in north england, tend in the north of england, tend to be economically radical but be more economically radical but more conservative. and more socially conservative. and in a sense, you know, the kind of, you know, the london liberal left in the commentariat and in politics doesn't really speak to these people effectively. and i think keir starmer is very. but isn't he? >> kevin isn't he a bit of an

archetype of that type really. >> mean at one time i think he >> i mean at one time i think he probably was. >> but i suspect he's been on a bit of a learning here. bit of a learning curve here. i mean, he's employed people around that get around him very much that get this issue . and i think, i think this issue. and i think, i think if you listen to often keir if you listen to often what keir starmer trying if you listen to often what keir st.speak trying if you listen to often what keir st.speak directly trying if you listen to often what keir st.speak directly to trying if you listen to often what keir st.speak directly to these ring to speak directly to these people so, think people to say so, you think kevin you he's he's kevin, you think he's he's suddenly realised kevin, you think he's he's sudd

low bargaining power themselves, and it impacts the self—employed . you know, these are the people, particularly in the nonh people, particularly in the north of england, people with people, particularly in the north people land, people with people, particularly in the north people working)ple with vans, people working for themselves. people themselves. these are the people labour needs reconnect with labour needs to reconnect with to in big numbers. yeah to win back in big numbers. yeah i'm kevin , that he'll i'm worried kevin, that he'll say what he needs to. >> what he needs to >> he'll say what he needs to get board, because get them on board, because the conservatives massively let conservatives have massively let down voters . down huge numbers of voters. he'll say what he needs to get them vote him, and then them to vote for him, and then actually he'll shift back to the real keir starmer. but i guess time will tell . kevin. maybe he time will tell. kevin. maybe he is listening. >> who knows the next election? i won't. i think he won't. >> much for your >> thank you very much for your time. appreciate it. kevin maher, former labour and maher, former labour advisor and also associate editor of also the associate editor of labour . let me know at labour uncut. let me know at home if you, uh, what you think about this offshore processing plan that potentially keir starmer is going to unveil, i guess would that actually stop the problem of the boats ? the problem of the boats? because i guess if you've got a legitimate claim, you you'll still go on, go on a boat to avoid going through the claim process . i don't know. let me process. i don't know. let me know what you think.

vaiews@gbnews.com do you think that's a good alternative to the rwanda plan? but anyway , you rwanda plan? but anyway, you could start your new year with £10,000 in cash of £500. shopping spree and a brand new iphone. shopping spree and a brand new iphone . sounds pretty good. iphone. sounds pretty good. well, here's how you can make all of those prizes yours . all of those prizes yours. >> there's still time to become the winner of great british the winner of our great british giveaway , and take home nearly giveaway, and take home nearly £12,000 of top prizes. there's cash to be won, £10,000 in tax free cash that you could use to make 2024 the best year yet . make 2024 the best year yet. there's also a shopping spree on us with £500 in vouchers to spend at the store of your choice. what's on your shopping list? if it's a new phone, we've got that too , covered with got that too, covered with a brand new iphone 15 pro max for another chance to win the iphone, the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84 9002. text cost £2 plus one standard network rate message or post your name and to number gb zero one, po box 8690. derby de192.

uk only entrants must be 18 or oveh uk only entrants must be 18 or over. lines close at 5 pm. on friday the 5th of january. full terms and privacy notice at gb news. com forward slash win good luck . luck. >> well winning that would certainly be a good start to the new year. why not enter now? weather warning are in place as storm garrett sweeps across the country. guess what? another storm is going to hit the uk on new year's eve. just what we need. i'm emily carver and this is good afternoon britain on gb news, britain's news channel

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news . news. >> welcome back. it's 124 in the afternoon. i'm emily carver and you're watching good afternoon britain on gb news. now in a few moments we're going to discuss the that went the new documentary that went behind the scenes of the king's coronation. have you watched it yet? know you yet? let me know what you thought. at news thought. gb views at gb news .com. but first, if you're travelling home after christmas, it might be a lot harder as storm garrett sweeps in across the uk , the met office is the uk, the met office is warning conditions. warning of wintry conditions. heavy rain, strong winds, disruption across the disruption expected across the country so joining us now is gb news national reporter theo chikomba, who's in dover theo is it windy or is it blustery. is there a storm on its way . there a storm on its way. >> well, the winds are certainly

here already. if you are considering potentially coming out for a swim later on today, you may have to reconsider that as their wind speeds estimated of around 80mph today, there are yellow weather warnings within the uk in the southeast, south, in the parts of the west wales, northern ireland and scotland. but it's not really affecting the central parts of the uk and . the central parts of the uk and. british airways have announced earlier today that 18 flights have been cancelled , some of have been cancelled, some of those flights going into mainland europe and towards a different part of the uk, such as scotland . but those were the as scotland. but those were the warnings are in place. there's not many people out today because of the weather. normally you'd see places like this filled with people who are coming out for a stroll, taking their dogs out for walk. i their dogs out for a walk. i still hanging out with their family following family and friends following the christmas break, but today, though speeds here are though the wind speeds here are pretty been pretty high, waves have been crashing onto sides here crashing onto the sides here throughout the morning, and that is expected to stay in place

until 6 pm. today. and just finally in southampton. those who are looking to make their journeys towards the isle of wight and they're using red funnel or red jet services , they funnel or red jet services, they are being told to potentially see cancellations and delays , so see cancellations and delays, so it's worth checking just before you do travel due to those high wind speeds here across the uk . wind speeds here across the uk. >> thank you. theo theo chikomba who's in dover for us? well, i guess there's no excuse not to hunker down and watch gb news all day. why not? the weather looks atrocious out there now . looks atrocious out there now. the christmas tv schedule is bringing up a host of surprises. last night , bringing up a host of surprises. last night, bbc one premiered a behind the scenes documentary focusing on king charles's coronation year. the princess royal took a starring role, providing heartfelt commentary. we were given a bit of a fly on the wall look at the life of the new monarch and his big day. >> so . are we. >> so. are we. >> do we go and get ourselves organised? yeah . some are always

organised? yeah. some are always all over 40. >> oh, there was just a really exciting moment . moment of just getting moment. moment of just getting them into that carriage the first time. and then we knew we were . off. were. off. >> and i thought back of, you know, being two years old and watching the queen's coronation and, you know, the tiny black and, you know, the tiny black and white television , and there and white television, and there goes this sort of golden coach with my sister in it. >> i can't explain the feeling, but it's so surreal and this cannot be happening . yeah it was

cannot be happening. yeah it was quite a moment. cannot be happening. yeah it was quite a moment . we were ready. quite a moment. we were ready. we were ready . right. we were ready. right. >> well, there's a little clip from the bbc documentary on king charles's first year. now i've got royal commentator jennie bond joining me now. got royal commentator jennie bond joining me now . jenny, bond joining me now. jenny, thank you very much. now i must admit, i haven't had a chance to watch the whole documentary yet, but i i later today. but i think i will later today. what i missed? what have i missed? >> uh, it was quite long, actually, and some of the critics have said it's perhaps a little over long, but it was a very interesting look behind the scenes. and it was a celebration, actually , not only celebration, actually, not only of family but of the royal family but a celebration of all the work that went the coronation. we went into the coronation. so we saw in a great in great detail, you know crown jewellers you know, the crown jewellers work, the work of the embroiderers who made up the coronation robe for camilla. but i mean, the most interesting bits obviously, were those little bits of fly in the wall. we saw body language between members of the royal family, which we always um, which we don't always see. um, we saw katherine kate being , um,

we saw katherine kate being, um, very deferential , observing very deferential, observing protocol, kissing, and then curtsying to, um , to charles, curtsying to, um, to charles, um, and we saw, i think the princess rose. you said had a starring role. we saw quite a lot of her. and i loved the fact that after the coronation was over , she sort of marched in over, she sort of marched in wearing uniform with trousers , wearing uniform with trousers, marched and said, oh, hello, old bean. and you could see that she and charles get on brilliantly and charles get on brilliantly and how important she is to him as king. well there any surprises, jenny? >> any relationships that appeared different to what we've known before . for known before. for >> no, i don't think so . known before. for >> no, i don't think so. i think, um, you just saw the real warmth of the family, and i think that combined with . the think that combined with. the scenes on christmas day at sandringham, show us a family that, despite all the problems and the rifts domestically with harry and meghan, the problems with andrew, um, is united now in many ways. i mean, not with

harry excluding harry and meghan, obviously, but there was a warmth about the whole family , a warmth about the whole family, um, including mike tindall , i um, including mike tindall, i think, who's got quite a lot of pubuchy think, who's got quite a lot of publicity because he put his arm almost in a sort of rugby tackle around george's neck and, uh, his little daughter mia was holding his cousin, her cousin louie's hand . and, um, they all louie's hand. and, um, they all get along fantastically well. and mike tindall is almost. now it seems like the lost uncle. he's not an uncle to the waleses children. he's a cousin by marriage. but he's like the big uncle and is good fun uncle and a very, very good buddy. stroke brother to william . brother to william. >> uh, jenny, why do you think they do these documentaries? just lastly . just lastly. >> oh, they do them quite regularly . regularly. >> i mean, some people have said, oh, this is a strategy, a pr strategy. isn't it extraordinary? but they come out every the every few years. the big anniversaries . um, and it is anniversaries. um, and it is partly pr but it's mostly to allow us to see what goes on behind scenes . and it

behind the scenes. and it doesn't do their, their image any harm at all. it has to be said . said. >> no, certainly not. thank you very much for joining >> no, certainly not. thank you very much forjoining me. >> no, certainly not. thank you very much for joining me. jennie bond, that bond, royal commentator on that bbc . now, more than bbc documentary. now, more than 70 children aged just three and four years old were sent to the controversial tavistock transgender clinic. statistics have shown. we'll get stuck into that after the break. this is good afternoon britain with me emily gb news it's emily carver on gb news it's your latest headlines . your latest headlines. >> emily thank you. good afternoon i'm sam francis in the gb newsroom. the headlines this hour. gb newsroom. the headlines this hour . first gb newsroom. the headlines this hour. first some breaking news. a 16 year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a fire at a school in west london. earlier, the metropolitan police have said in the last few moments , ten fire the last few moments, ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to the blaze at the london oratory school at around 10:00 this morning. part of the building has been damaged but no injuries have been reported by the london

fire brigade. have been reported by the london fire brigade . and meanwhile, fire brigade. and meanwhile, chancellor jeremy fire brigade. and meanwhile, chancellorjeremy hunt has chancellor jeremy hunt has announced that the 2024 spring budget will be delivered on march the sixth. it comes as reports have emerged that downing street is considering axing inheritance tax and reducing income tax. meanwhile, the housing secretary, michael gove, has hinted at pre—election giveaways such suggesting that the party will cut costs for first time home buyers . first time home buyers. thousands of travellers are facing delays or cancellations as storm gerrit forces flights to be grounded. earlier, 18 british airways flights at heathrow were axed. meanwhile, multiple weather warnings are in place for wind and rain across the uk and ferries at dover are facing up to three hours of delays. our national reporter, theo chikomba, is at the scene. >> there are yellow weather warnings across the uk in the south—east, south of the west, wales, northern ireland and scotland, but not the central part of the uk. this is due to storm garrett weather warnings

in place until 6 pm. today. way for those who are travelling in places in scotland , it's worth places in scotland, it's worth checking as some of the transport services have been disrupted today, so it's worth checking before you travel. and if you are heading on the roads, do you expect speed restrictions due to the high wind levels ? and due to the high wind levels? and if you're travelling from southampton to the isle of wight, there are some minor disruptions and cancellations. passengers being told to double check before they travel as red funnel services are being affected today. but again , those affected today. but again, those were the warnings. the yellow weather warnings are in place until 6 pm. and the number of people shopping in high street sales across the uk was down more than 20% on boxing day , more than 20% on boxing day, figures from mri software found that whilst footfall was up before 3:00 in the afternoon, it was significant lower across the day as a whole , the group said day as a whole, the group said the only location to experience an overall rise in high street visitors was central london, and you can get more on all of those

stories by visiting our website, gbnews.com . for a valuable gbnews.com. for a valuable legacy your family can own . legacy your family can own. >> gold coins will always shine bright. >> rosalind. gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2745 and ,1.1518. the price of gold . is £1,622.7o per price of gold. is £1,622.7o per ounce, and the ftse 100 is 7743 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> welcome back. it's 135 now. it's emerged that dozens of three and four year olds have been sent to the controversial nhs transgender clinic. more than 70 preschoolers were referred to the gender identity development service, just over the past decade. i'm joined by

stephanie davies rac, who's the director of transgender trend. thank you very much for joining me. stephanie, were you surprised by these statistics ? surprised by these statistics? >> um, no . we've known this for >> um, no. we've known this for a while that very young children have been referred to the tavistock , and it's increased tavistock, and it's increased over. tavistock, and it's increased over . the decade, i think, over. the decade, i think, because of the direct targeting of the youngest children by by activists. so we have around 60 picture books now for little children for the earliest ages, three plus and of course in primary schools now. it's also promoted the idea of gender identity . so parents now are in identity. so parents now are in a position where they think their child has a problem, when actually it's just a normal part of childhood. develop isn't now the nhs trust that runs this service? >> they have said that no three

year olds would have received treatment, but there may have been sort of one off discussion . been sort of one off discussion. concerns about their psychological state with the parent and the carers to provide some sort of support and advice. is your concern that that would have included an affirmation that they are, in fact born in the wrong body ? the wrong body? >> well, we know that the tavistock went more and more towards a gender affirmative approach , so we don't actually approach, so we don't actually know what advice was given to parents. there was a documentary about the tavistock a few years ago called the gender clinic, where it was seen clinicians giving advice to a seven year old boy, saying to him, do you think you'll always feel like a girl? and of course he said, yes, um, even at seven years old, which is what the nhs is proposing now . so there is a proposing now. so there is a problem there with, um, how much children can understand. of course , children think they will course, children think they will never change, the same as teenagers who are convinced they

will absolutely never change. they will always be the same. but there developing it's childhood and adolescent development that we're looking at. the problem now is even if the age is , um, increased to age the age is, um, increased to age seven years old, because of all the activism , a lot of parents the activism, a lot of parents will think it's the best thing to socially transition their child. so to tell their little boy that, yes , he is really boy that, yes, he is really a girl. if he feels that way. and so these children may be coming to the clinic for the first time at age seven, having been , you at age seven, having been, you know, that little boy, having been told he's a girl for years by his parents, by school, by his parents, by his school, by his parents, by his school, by his parents, by his school, by his classmates. and so he arrives at the clinic fully convinced that he really is a girl. so actually, it's although , you know, no children should be going to gender clinics. no child needs a gender clinic. um, i really think the nhs needs to do more work in training . um, do more work in training. um, camhs clinicians and therapists

so that if parents are really . so that if parents are really. worried about a child, they can access support in how to support that child to be be what they really are, the sex that they really are, the sex that they really are, the sex that they really are without confusing them, that they that it is possible to change sex. so we need sensible advice from nhs clinicians in in other areas. so that children are not referred to gender clinics. >> so stephanie, are you saying that no child of any age should visit such a clinic ? visit such a clinic? >> i don't think it is a place where certainly, um, from the evidence of the tavistock, it's become so overtaken by an activist agenda, which is gender affirmation . um, i think that affirmation. um, i think that the clinics , the new clinics the clinics, the new clinics that are being set up, um, according to the advice of hilary cass , who did the review hilary cass, who did the review of the tavistock um, sound much better in that those clinics will refer children to other

services if they have , um, services if they have, um, underlying mental health issues, previous trauma , if they're previous trauma, if they're autistic, if they're , um, autistic, if they're, um, confused and depressed, adolescent , then they can be adolescent, then they can be referred to other ordinary mental health services . the mental health services. the number of children who you. >> yes. stephanie. >> yes. stephanie. >> that was one of the issues with the tavistock clinic. wasn't it, that a child could have had all sorts of issues, perhaps there was autism or other mental and mental health problems . adams yet they would problems. adams yet they would once they'd gone down the gender route that would be the way they were treated with little recognition of anything else that was going on. that was one of the major criticism, wasn't it? yes >> doctor hilary cass put it, um, that as soon as the word gender was mentioned, then all other issues were ignored so that led to diagnosis what she termed diagnostic overshadowing .

termed diagnostic overshadowing. um, so mental health issues , for um, so mental health issues, for example, were ignored. any kind of eating disorders or body dysmorphia or any reasons for that, um, gender and those, you know, feelings of gender distress were just ignored. and the child was was encouraged towards a medical pathway. and thatis towards a medical pathway. and that is what i think. no child needs. >> i mean, a lot of people will just be gobsmacked that a parent would take a child of age three and four to a to a gender clinic . but there you go. that's the state of affairs. stephanie davies , who's the director of davies, who's the director of transgender trend. thank you very much indeed for your time. now, a spokesman for the tavistock clinic said the gids pathway psychological pathway provides psychological assessments, and assessments, treatment and support for families so we are unable to provide figures on those have undergone those who have undergone physical interventions. the outcome of gender identity development in younger , development in younger, prepubertal is prepubertal young people is uncertain and so treatment is not provided and most often there would be a one off

discussion with the parents or carers support and carers to provide support and advice. i guess the fear is that it sets a child, you know, on the track to then having a more medical intervention. but let's bnng medical intervention. but let's bring you some breaking news and this might cheer rishi sunak up. migrants did not cross the channel over the christmas penod channel over the christmas period for the first time since current records began, according to home office figures, no channel crossings took place on christmas eve. christmas day or boxing day this . year. this is boxing day this. year. this is the first time this has happened since 2018. the number of crossings this year is 36% down compared to this time last year. the provisional total for 2023 is still lower than 30,000. so there you go. no channel crossings over christmas eve, christmas day or boxing day this year. christmas day or boxing day this year . that's the first time christmas day or boxing day this year. that's the first time this has happened since 2018. uh, hopefully we'll get some more information on why that might have been. was it weather or was it some of the policies the

government have implemented? it some of the policies the goverfind1t have implemented? it some of the policies the goverfind out ave implemented? it some of the policies the goverfind out more, plemented? it some of the policies the goverfind out more, butnented? it some of the policies the goverfind out more, but pintsd? we'll find out more, but pints of wine are going to be sold on british shelves for the first time ever. but we won't be getting imperial measurements back any time soon. i'm emily carver and this is good afternoon britain on gb news, britain's news channel

isabel monday to thursdays from 6:00 till 930. welcome back. >> it's 146. welcome back. >> it's146. i'm emily carver.

you're watching. good afternoon. britain on gb news now at 2:00, i'll ask whether the tories are preparing to cut taxes in a big way in a big pre—election tax giveaway. but joining me now to discuss some of the top stories today is novara journalist today is novara media journalist michael and the michael walker and the entrepreneur tv star entrepreneur and reality tv star ashlyn horgan—wallace. thank you very much indeed forjoining me. so let's start with the, uh, sometimes controversial issues of pints of wine. is this a triumph , michael? triumph, michael? >> is it sometimes is it controversial with those who approve of drinking? okay potentially, or those who claim it's a brexit win? well, to me, isuppose it's a brexit win? well, to me, i suppose , i mean, i'm i've got i suppose, i mean, i'm i've got no opposition to pints of wine. >> it does seem a little bit like, you know, we had such a long political crisis, didn't we, came to brexit. so we, when it came to brexit. so much drama and it seems bit much drama and it seems a bit like scraping the like we're sort of scraping the barrel possible barrel for what possible benefits listen benefits we might have. listen we did we did all of that. >> all of that for pints of wine, i know. well i'm here for it. i'll raise a glass to i it. i'll raise a glass to it. i don't with it. >> um, and i don't see anything wrong with it.

>> i don't see anything wrong with nothing wrong >> i don't see anything wrong with it. nothing wrong >> i don't see anything wrong with it. think nothing wrong >> i don't see anything wrong with it. think irothing wrong >> i don't see anything wrong with it. think i thinkg wrong >> i don't see anything wrong with it. think i think it's'ong with it. i think i think it's nice can't, nice for people that can't, maybe whole maybe can't afford a whole bottle of fizz. >> do you what get >> do you know what i mean? get a mean, it a smaller bottle. i mean, it would something. would be quite something. >> something >> it would be quite something going into a supermarket and buying you for the buying a pint, you know, for the first time. >> will quite sycamore >> um, will it be quite sycamore gap?ifs >> um, will it be quite sycamore gap? it's going be in a gap? it's not going to be in a pint be a. i'm gap? it's not going to be in a pintsure be a. i'm gap? it's not going to be in a pintsure believe a. i'm gap? it's not going to be in a pintsure believe a. i'ryou're not sure you believe what you're saying not sure you believe what you're say look, i've got my pint of >> look, i've got my pint of champagne . champagne. >> not for you. >> no, michael, not for you. >> no, michael, not for you. >> you could pretend >> no, michael, not for you. >> you've you could pretend >> no, michael, not for you. >> you've had| could pretend >> no, michael, not for you. >> you've had a ould pretend >> no, michael, not for you. >> you've had a had pretend >> no, michael, not for you. >> you've had a had pmassive that you've had a had a massive bottle but bottle of champagne, but you really just had the mediterranean . really just had the meyit'srranean . really just had the meyit'srracarafe of wine, isn't >> it's a carafe of wine, isn't it? about pint, it? which is about a pint, i think craft wine. think a craft wine. >> like a large >> see, we're in, like a large penod >> see, we're in, like a large period christmas and new period between christmas and new yeah period between christmas and new year. and it's worth year. michael and it's worth making sound more making things sound more exciting than. >> right, well , not exciting than. >> right, well, not i'm not >> all right, well, not i'm not playing here. well, playing ball here. well, personally, i cannot wait to go out get a pint of prosecco. out and get a pint of prosecco. yeah i'll me one as yeah me too. i'll get me one as well. for it. but the well. she's up for it. but the return to imperial measures has been scrapped because no one wanted it. yeah i know, i mean, i'm so old fashioned. >> i do everything old, old ways. i have to google the new ways. i have to google the new way of knowing and way of knowing metres and heights and. >> yeah , i'm 4045 tomorrow.

>> yeah, i'm 4045 tomorrow. okay, i look at you. yeah, yeah. thank you. girl i mean, boy i don't mind whatever these things. yeah. >> no, i'm really old fashioned. i don't get any of it. i have to google for the old way . i google for the old way. i prefer, i much prefer, you know, if i'm five foot eight, i weigh, i weigh 11 stone, like , it's i weigh 11 stone, like, it's strange because we do heights and weights. >> we do imperial, but like shopping , like pasta. would shopping, like for pasta. would you no you'd you buy it in pounds? no you'd buy look at it. i buy it. i just look at it. i look looks big look at it. if it looks big enough, getting person. enough, i'm getting person. >> literally visual i >>i -- >> i can't do the. is this a miserable failure , michael? >> uh, well , michael? >> uh, well, uh, michael? >> uh, well , uh, no, michael? >> uh, well, uh, no, uh, no michael? >> uh, well , uh, no, uh, no, no, >> uh, well, uh, no, uh, no, no, i promised we were promised change. >> i suppose. >> i suppose. >> i suppose what i would say here is that you've got a situation whereby we are in a cost living crisis. wages cost of living crisis. wages are no they were 15 no higher than they were 15 years yeah, the nhs is a years ago. yeah, the nhs is a complete mess. and then we had a whole cycle about moving to whole news cycle about moving to imperial measurements , which no imperial measurements, which no one cared about. >> and evidently no one wanted. because not that you

because it's not just that you said wants it. said no one wants it. >> it's literally, >> sort of. it's literally, i think 1.3% of respondents to the consultation said they'd like this to happen. >> for things to be changed, you don't normally get majorities that of days ago, i was >> a couple of days ago, i was reporting that, know, reporting that, you know, british an british vineyards have had an exceptional record exceptional bumper year, record levels sparkling wine being levels of sparkling wine being sold, something like 20 million engush sold, something like 20 million english of wine being english bottles of wine being sold english bottles of wine being solyclimate isn't it? >> climate change, isn't it? isn't well, maybe he was >> yes. well, maybe he was trying the big bottles trying to buy the big bottles before pint size. >> who knows ? >> who knows? >> who knows? >> but, um. kevin, kevin hoffman, kevin hollinrake , who hoffman, kevin hollinrake, who was a minister, claims the choice . choice. >> this is over the pints is a good thing. we have a look at what he said. >> be able to do this >> we used to be able to do this before european before we joined the european union. and why not? is the union. um and why not? is the answer at the moment. you buy a bottle of wine tends to be at seven is, uh , a pint of seven 50ml is, uh, a pint of wine is five 68 millilitre. you can also be able to buy one at 500ml. it's more freedom for producers. it's more freedom for consumers. we're all in favour of that though . of that though. >> freedom to choose. >> freedom to choose. >> inspiring stuff . maybe i'll

>> inspiring stuff. maybe i'll vote conservative this time around and we can get some more sizes. >> you know, michael, it's easy to be cynical. >> could we have twix bars two thirds of the size that they already are? sometimes it's just thirds of the size that they alremuch'e? sometimes it's just thirds of the size that they alre much to sometimes it's just thirds of the size that they alre much to handle mes it's just thirds of the size that they alremuch to handle shrinking, st too much to handle shrinking, though, isn't it? i think shrinking. you shrinking. well, that's why you have actually, have those eu laws actually, because businesses were just shrinking actually, will the cost >> well, actually, will the cost be same ? so there you go. if be the same? so there you go. if the is the same, then we're the cost is the same, then we're not winning. we're losing out. should move towards more should we move towards more serious . and that is of serious matters. and that is of course, what's happening over in israel gaza right now. israel and gaza right now. israel and gaza right now. israel readies for war on seven fronts as a tax recorded in neighbouring countries. this is true. israel has a lot of enemies. >> i'm not surprised though. >> i'm not surprised though. >> everyone's just absolutely sick of the destruction. you know, people are angry . people know, people are angry. people are going to want to fight against it. but how much proof is there that, you know, these latest attacks? >> there's not actually proof. it's just a israel saying that they've been attacked. >> i know . >> as far as i know. >> oh, yes. so you mean on these on, the of this, this

on, on the issue of this, this war fronts? war on different fronts? >> talking about >> no, but we're talking about israel saying they're israel are saying that they're under from obviously gaza. >> yeah. lebanon syria, the west bank, iraq , yemen >> yeah. lebanon syria, the west bank, iraq, yemen and iran. my point is, michael, that israel oil is israel has many enemies in the region , and many in the region, and many different countries would potentially like to see it cease to exist. is that fair to say? >> well , i to exist. is that fair to say? >> well, i don't think that's what we're looking at here. >> i think it would be mistake what we're looking at here. >>call|ink it would be mistake what we're looking at here. >>call|ink ianyyuld be mistake what we're looking at here. >>call|ink iany kind)e mistake what we're looking at here. >>call|ink iany kind of mistake to call this any kind of existential challenge to the existence of israel. >> i think what you've got is it's happened on it's not what happened on october the 7th existence. october the 7th in existence. >> no, i mean, was 9/11 an existential threat to the existence states? existence of the united states? >> it was a terrible >> no, i mean, it was a terrible attack our border, though. attack on our border, though. >> attack. >> it was a terrible attack. >> it was a terrible attack. >> not threat the >> but it's not a threat to the existence state. i don't existence of the state. i don't think analyst would existence of the state. i don't think that. analyst would existence of the state. i don't think that. mean,nalyst would existence of the state. i don't think that. mean,nalyst vwhat argue that. i mean, i think what we're is you've got we're seeing now is you've got 20,000 civilians or 20,000 people in total. sorry. have been killed. two been have been killed. two thirds of women and thirds of those women and children you've many children. and you've got many publics all around the world, but obviously, especially in the arab especially in the arab world, especially in the region, who are very, very angry about . and that does put about this. and that does put

pressure governments in the pressure on governments in the region show that they region to show that they are doing oppose what region to show that they are doing scholars oppose what region to show that they are doing scholars are oppose what region to show that they are doing scholars are callinga what many scholars are calling genocide. yeah. so i mean, if you do want to do i mean, we've also got netanyahu now saying that he wants to basically clear out the population of gaza, which would be incredibly destabilising for the region, because got of because you've got a lot of people angry. um, people who are very angry. um, the people of gaza will be fairly radical at moment. fairly radical at the moment. they're not going to be sort of saying, to they're not going to be sort of sayingand to they're not going to be sort of sayingand start to they're not going to be sort of sayingand start our to they're not going to be sort of sayingand start our lives. to egypt and start our lives. they're going to be trying to fight for their land back. that's what people tend to do when they kicked their when they get kicked off their land. really what we land. so i think really what we need here is israel need to see here is israel to start bit like start behaving a bit more like a responsible start behaving a bit more like a resp sort3le start behaving a bit more like a resp sort of massive grenade in this sort of massive grenade in the middle the middle east. the middle of the middle east. >> , israel no >> well, israel have no intention to ceasefire. ashlene yeah, and they are saying, in fact, that this is not going to be a short war and that it's going to continue for months at least. their sole aim, as they say , is to destroy hamas and to say, is to destroy hamas and to do so . it takes time. do so. it takes time. >> i mean, ijust i just do so. it takes time. >> i mean, i just i just think >> i mean, ijust i just think they were justified when they initially fought back. but now

it's just gone on for too long. >> there's so much devastation as women and children than men. >> i just can't even watch it anymore. i can't even engage. but they would argue that because because hamas is so embedded in the civilian population, it's extremely difficult for there to be no civilian casualty , as there must civilian casualty, as there must be another way. but too be another way. but there's too much casualty. much civilian casualty. it doesn't . one doesn't it doesn't doesn't. one doesn't it doesn't weigh up. it's not fair, basically. >> right. well we'll come back to this because unfortunately we've run out of time this hour. but thank very indeed. but thank you very much indeed. michael novara michael walker from novara media, course , media, and also, of course, ashlene. uh, i've forgotten your surname. >> surname. >> i'm terribly, terribly , >> i'm terribly, terribly, terribly double barrel tiling . terribly double barrel tiling. >> my autocue was not in the right place for your surname. but anyway, the budget will be on the 6th of march. we'll get stuck into that in just a moment. i'm emily carver, this is afternoon, on is good afternoon, britain on gb news, channel news, britain's news channel >> like things heating >> looks like things are heating up. boilers . sponsors of up. boxt boilers. sponsors of weather on gb news .

weather on gb news. >> hello. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast storm. gareth is bringing strong winds and gales to much of the uk through the rest of the day. heavy rain and in some places heavy snowfall . the garrett heavy snowfall. the garrett moves across parts of north—west uk with its trading weather fronts, bringing outbreaks of heavy rain and as that rain moves into cold air across northern scotland, some significant snow above 200m and some blizzards and drifting of that snow as well. 20cm plus over higher parts of northern scotland . heavy rain as well for scotland. heavy rain as well for many other parts of the uk, sweeping through followed by blustery showers and gales with 50 to 60 mile per hour wind gusts for southern coastal counties of england. western parts as well seeing 50 mile per hour gusts the hour wind gusts and the winds peaking across northern scotland later the with risk later in the day, with the risk of 80 per hour wind gusts, of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so treacherous conditions of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so theretreacherous conditions of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so there duringrous conditions of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so there during the conditions of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so there during the restiitions of 80 mile per hour wind gusts, so there during the rest ofons out there during the rest of wednesday. overnight it stays blustery, further showers blustery, with further showers coming and the chance of 60 coming in and the chance of 60 or even 70 mile per hour wind

gusts in some of these showers across western parts and of course, with the wind and those showers, it's going to be generally frost free, but we'll continue to see some over continue to see some snow over the of scotland in those the hills of scotland in those showers. then start showers. and then as we start off thursday , well, really, it's off thursday, well, really, it's a day. it's less a very blustery day. it's less windy wednesday , windy compared with wednesday, but still a strong wind out there . frequent showers or there. frequent showers or longer rain . still longer spells of rain. still some snow northern some hill snow across northern scotland will be some scotland, but there will be some dner scotland, but there will be some drier and brighter interludes in between. the heavy showers . between. the heavy showers. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers , sponsors of boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on gb news .

>> good afternoon britain. it is 2:00 on wednesday. the 27th of december. rishi spring giveaway. it's been announced today that the spring budget will take place on march the sixth. the prime minister is said to have demanded change on tax as demanded a gear change on tax as he looks to axing inherited tax and shaking up income tax ahead of the next general election . of the next general election. storm garrett chaos the met office has issued nine yellow weather warnings across the uk as travellers are warned of potentially hazardous conditions on road and rail. you k leads the way with the first country in the g20 to halve our carbon emissions . the secretary of emissions. the secretary of state for energy security and net zero, claire coutinho, says as we are a world leader in

tackling climate change, well, there you go . there you go. and comedian ricky gervais has caused quite the stir. his latest netflix special has been deemed depher problematic by some. what's problematic about it ? often his jokes are called it? often his jokes are called problematic . we'll find out problematic. we'll find out what's happened here later on in the hour. but first, it's your latest news headlines . latest news headlines. >> emily, thank you very much. good afternoon. i'm sam francis in the gb news room . the in the gb news room. the headunes in the gb news room. the headlines at two. a 16 year old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a fire at a school in west london. ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to the blaze at the london oratory school at around 10:00 this morning. the london fire brigade

said that part of the building had been damaged , but no had been damaged, but no injuries have yet been reported . injuries have yet been reported. the chancellor, jeremy hunt, has announced that the 2024 spring budget will be delivered on the 6th of march. it could be his last chance to introduce major tax and spending changes before the next general election. it comes as reports have emerged that downing street could axe inheritance tax and reduce income tax. the move is just one of a handful of attention grabbing pledges that number 10 hopes will boost. rishi rishi sunak chances of a win. meanwhile the housing secretary, michael gove, has hinted at pre—election giveaways suggesting the party will cut costs for first time home buyers . and thousands of travellers have been facing delays and cancellations as storm garrett forces flights to be grounded . forces flights to be grounded. earlier, 18 british airways flights at heathrow were axed and multiple yellow weather warnings are in place across the uk. well our national reporter theo chikomba is in dover for us. theo how are things where

you are wet ? by the looks of you are wet? by the looks of things ? things? >> yes, well, in addition to those 18 flights which have been cancelled by british airways at heathrow airport in scotland, there have been some issues with transport in the dunbar area. a train , uh, a tree fell on the train, uh, a tree fell on the tracks earlier today and then flooding caused further delays as well . there are gusts of up as well. there are gusts of up to 18mph throughout many parts of the uk . to 18mph throughout many parts of the uk. nine to 18mph throughout many parts of the uk . nine yellow weather of the uk. nine yellow weather warnings until 6 pm. so people are being advised to check before they travel in southampton . those looking to southampton. those looking to use the red funnel red jet services are being cautioned that there may be disruptions and cancellations, and those travelling in portsmouth using hovercrafts are also being warned that there are further cancellations and disruption today. >> so, theo, thank you very much. theo chikomba there live for us in dover. well, staying in dover ferry passengers are facing three hour delays at the port. they are facing high demand at the port as thousands

of people make post—christmas trips across the channel those who miss booked ferries are being put onto the next sailing with space available, enhanced passport checks by french border officials following the uk's withdrawal from the eu have significantly increased processing times . downing street processing times. downing street says a suspected arson attack at the office of a conservative mp, mike freer, is clearly concerning. fire crews were called to the building in north london on christmas eve after it was partially damaged by the blaze. no was the blaze. no one was in the building at time of the building at the time of the incident, and police say the incident, and the police say the investigation . investigation is ongoing. hospital car parking fees in england have risen by more than 50% in just the last year. that's according to new figures . that's according to new figures. visitors and patients spent £146 million for parking in 2022 to 23. that's the equivalent of £400,000 spent in hospital car parks every day. the data, which was uncovered by the liberal

democrat , has also found parking democrat, has also found parking fees paid by hospital staff has soared by more than eight fold. it's up from 5.6 million to more than £46 million, and brits will soon be able to buy new pint sized bottles of still and sparkling wine . that's as part sparkling wine. that's as part of new post—brexit freedoms. the new size of the wine will appear on supermarket shelves, as well as in pubs, clubs and in restaurants. the government says the move will offer more flexibility and choice for customers . champagne pint customers. champagne pint bottles were sold in the uk until 1973, when britain joined the european common market, but it stopped as they didn't comply with eu weights and measures. parliamentary under—secretary for business kevin hollinrake says the move will benefit everyone . everyone. >> well, i think it's a really important change. we used to be able to buy pints of champagne in bottles and wine, for example, before joining the european union, so i think it's an opportunity for innovation . an opportunity for innovation.

churchill's favourite size of bottle. he said it was the right size for lunch for two or for dinner for one. so um, so i think it's a nice innovation and something we can do now. we left the european union in, well, more than 200,000 shoplifting cases went unsolved and in the space of a year. >> that's according to new figures that show only around 15% of some 362,000 cases were said to have resulted in a suspect being charged . the suspect being charged. the liberal democrats, who studied the figures, have accused the government of failing to tackle what they call an epidemic. government of failing to tackle what they call an epidemic . a what they call an epidemic. a home office spokeswoman said charging rates for shoplifting are up by almost a third in the past year . this is gb news past year. this is gb news across the uk. we're on tv in your car, digital radio and on your car, digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news now though. more from . emily. from. emily. >> right, well, we start with rishi sunak. the prime minister, who could cut taxes in march in

what's been termed a pre—election giveaway. our tax cuts , giveaways, i don't know. cuts, giveaways, i don't know. but sunak said to be considering a cut in both income tax as well as axing inheritance tax, as the tories look to cut labour's rather big lead in the polls, the chancellor, jeremy hunt, has announced this morning that the 2024 spring budget will be delivered on march the 6th. i'm joined by gb news political correspondent olivia utley to bnng correspondent olivia utley to bring us up to date , olivia. bring us up to date, olivia. lots of talk about the tax cuts in the papers this morning . and in the papers this morning. and then the spring budget is announced for march the 6th. yes >> spring budget slightly earlier than in previous years, which is fuelling speculation in westminster that the conservative are gearing up for a may election rather than an autumn election, as had previously been thought. lots and lots of speculation over the types of taxes that the conservatives will cut. it is clear that they will start to do some serious tax cutting in the

spnng some serious tax cutting in the spring budget. jeremy hunt and rishi sunak said right at the outset, when rishi sunak became prime minister last october, that what they wanted to do was get inflation down and once that was sorted, they would have the headroom to cut taxes . they will headroom to cut taxes. they will now argue that inflation is down. they have managed to halve inflation from about 10% at the end of last year to about 4% now, and they will now say that there is room for tax cuts. the types of tax cuts being discussed are a scrappage altogether of inheritance tax, which is something that polls very, very well and isn't actually that expensive for the treasury because although lots of people think that they will benefit from inheritance tax being scrapped , actually not being scrapped, actually not really that many people do. so it might be quite a clever sort of trick that the conservatives could pull. there talk of other taxes being scrapped, talk of a cut in cut or a complete overhaul of stamp duty . lots of overhaul of stamp duty. lots of conservative mps feel that stamp

duty really gums up the market, but there are. those tend to be on the left of the party who don't think that that's an urgent tax to scrap on the grounds that on the it grounds that on the whole, it usually benefits as scrapping stamp duty would benefit those in london and the south east, because it only applies to properties worth over. i think it's £425,000. talk as well. michael gove talking, helping first time buyers with third year fixed terms mortgages, something that's very common in the us . uh, something that's very common in the us. uh, but something that's very common in the us . uh, but that uh, something that's very common in the us. uh, but that uh, is and isn't really done over here. meanwhile, although this doesn't seem to be something that the conservatives are, the conservatives are, the conservative government is actively considering for the spnng actively considering for the spring budget . plenty of spring budget. plenty of conservative mps on twitter saying what they would like to see cut is the or what they would like to see changed is the threshold at which income tax is paid. those thresholds have been frozen for, i think it's ten years now and obviously against a backdrop of very , very high

a backdrop of very, very high inflation. if you have a higher tax band at £50,000, for example, £50,000.1o years ago is not the same as what £50,000 is now. so actually those stealth taxes, as they're called uh, is what on the whole is making the average person poorer than they were 5 or 6 years ago. so could the conservatives consider doing something about that in that spnng something about that in that spring budget? there is going to be a lot of speculation over the next few months, but what is certain is that the conservatives are going to try as hard as they can to pull a rabbit or two out of the hat. yes >> i mean, last time the conservatives cut taxes back in november , for sure. there were november, for sure. there were a few positive headlines. some of the papers saying this was a big win . national insurance cut . but win. national insurance cut. but there were a lot of people who were pointing to those income tax thresholds saying, hang on a minute, taxes haven't actually gone down. when you look at the overall tax burden on working people, they need to switch up

that narrative. need that narrative. they need to change narrative . if they change that narrative. if they want be convinced that want people to be convinced that they're the party of cutting taxes . taxes again. >> well, absolutely. jeremy hunt had some clever spin in the autumn statement in november , autumn statement in november, where he essentially implied that the tax burden would be decreasing for the average person over the next couple of years, thanks to his £0.02 cut in national insurance tax. but if you actually dive into the figures, because those income tax thresholds are still frozen and because inflation is still doing what it does and raising prices, actually all you can really say is that taxes are now rising less steeply than they would have been had jeremy hunt not introduced that cut to national insurance, which isn't quite as catchy and obviously isn't quite as beneficial for the average brit. so yes, lots of conservative mps are saying that if they really want to make a material difference, then what they need to do is remove those

is change, is raise those income tax thresholds rather than tinkering around the edges with something like a scrap to inheritance tax. >> well, the hope is that they will make changes that will actually impact people , people actually impact people, people and make the cost of living that bit easier. give people back some disposable income. some more disposable income. sometimes changes are made that don't really have. they might make a good headline, but they don't really much a don't really make that much of a an to wallets. so we an impact to our wallets. so we wait march to see wait till march the 6th to see what's i imagine what's happening. but i imagine there report after there will be report after report showing us, report after report showing us, well, showing us what the government is considering, what they may or may not go with. thank you very much indeed. olivia gb news political olivia utley gb news political correspondent with the latest. there from the government. what would you at home like to see jeremy hunt announce come march the 6th? is there anything that could turn around the fate of the conservatives around 15 to 20 points now behind , and the 20 points now behind, and the labour party. it's not looking good for the conservative

government. if they announced wide ranging tax cuts with that, uh, change your mind if you've, uh. well if you've turned your back on the conservative gives or is there anything that they could announce that would change the fate for rishi sunak ? at the the fate for rishi sunak? at the moment? it's going to be a tough task task. but at the moment, our tax burden remember at our tax burden let's remember at a 70 year high, can they get it down on that was olivia utley our gb news political correspondent. let me know what you vaiews@gbnews.com so you think. vaiews@gbnews.com so should rishi sunak cut taxes and would it make much of a difference to the tories election chances? that is the question . i'm joined by doctor question. i'm joined by doctor roger gewolb, who's a former adviser to the of england adviser to the bank of england and treasury, he knows and the uk treasury, so he knows his stuff. roger, very his stuff. roger, thank you very much for joining good see much forjoining me. good to see you always. so we've got you as always. so we've got we've got the announcement that the spring budget will now be on march the sixth, a little bit earlier than normal. we've got talk of a potential early election, although we don't know if the government will decide to

hang on as long as possible before announcing that. and of course, papers is full of course, the papers is full of ideas the government are ideas that the government are considering when it comes to tax cuts . what you suspect cuts. what what do you suspect will happen ? will happen? >> i've been saying for a >> well, i've been saying for a long time, emily, a very, very long time, emily, a very, very long time, emily, a very, very long time, that despite all the protests that we can't have tax cuts there will be tax cuts because these folks are really desperate . um, and these are the desperate. um, and these are the desperate, cynical actions of some people who are beyond unpaid suella. i think that olivia is rather positive about the spin that they put out. i think she's right in using the words clever spin and clever tncks. words clever spin and clever tricks . and i think that the tricks. and i think that the british public is sick and tired of seeing nothing but that from them . um, cutting the them. um, cutting the inheritance tax is indeed a cynical move because it doesn't help that many people, although it's perceived as helping rather more, um , she's absolutely right

more, um, she's absolutely right , as i've been saying for a very, very long time, the only tax move that makes any sense to help us in this cost of living crisis is to move the tax threshold so that people don't suffer what's called fiscal drag . in other words, people on such low incomes that they don't pay tax now are dragged into the net and people already paying tax pay and people already paying tax pay more and more tax . you're pay more and more tax. you're quite right, emily. that that after the november , uh, after after the november, uh, after the last autumn statement actually when jeremy hunt , who actually when jeremy hunt, who nobody believes about anything, i think and whose popularity rating . is —15, um , said these rating. is —15, um, said these are the greatest tax cuts in a very long time . uh, you're quite very long time. uh, you're quite right. it actually was to have an effect of raising taxes to the highest level since 1948. i mean, it's ridiculous. these are desperate moves. i don't

personally think it will save the tories. i think we'll get labour who who will probably leave the taxes where they are . leave the taxes where they are. um, and introduce more measures that will further crash the housing and property market, and thus they will make, uh, property more accessible to first time buyers because they'll become so much cheaper . they'll become so much cheaper. uh, jordan peterson, the, the, uh, noted, uh , analyst and uh, noted, uh, analyst and psychologist said the other day that if labour gets in, britain will become venezuela for the next 20 years. he did say that. yeah. so i think it's moving the thresholds, which is the main thing. and i'm just afraid that nobody believes these folks anymore. they've lost so much credibility. um, so , roger, what happens? >> roger. it's like you've snuck up behind me and read the inbox in front of me, because those are the two things that people are the two things that people are saying to me right now . one,

are saying to me right now. one, don't trust the conservatives anyway. and number two, they may maybe will get my vote if they increase that tax threshold . and increase that tax threshold. and that seems to be the one that people want. but that is a lot more costly for the government. isn't is , but i think there are >> it is, but i think there are two things here. uh, the first is what bill clinton said long ago. it's the economy , stupid, ago. it's the economy, stupid, because when you get to the voting booth, there's really only one thing people care about . it isn't immigration. it isn't ukraine or gaza or or, uh, climate change. they care about how much money is in their pocket, clinton said . how much pocket, clinton said. how much the government is going to take in tax. now if they're smart, the tories could save themselves possibly by some major cuts , possibly by some major cuts, starting with moving those thresholds . but it will cost thresholds. but it will cost them . um, and, you know, i've them. um, and, you know, i've been saying also for a long time that all these huge tax

increases by stealth have been to build up a war chest. so they can make those cuts and surprise us all. but they've made so many mistakes, so many blunders , so mistakes, so many blunders, so many feet in the mouth. one after the other, that i don't actually know . um, if it will actually know. um, if it will save them . save them. >> you know, roger, i'm in two minds about the importance of tax policy when it comes to where people put their put their cross at the ballot box because i'm not sure with the state of pubuc i'm not sure with the state of public services as they are, and the narrative around the nhs being so negative, and also the reality of people's experiences, and then failures with the immigration system , i disagree immigration system, i disagree with you. i do think people will vote on that topic, although perhaps not if they consider that both labour and the conservatives , uh, well, conservatives aren't, uh, well, aren't competent enough to solve those issues either. but i do wonder whether people think about public service spending more than they do tax cuts. what do you think ? do you think? >> i think that i can see your

point , but i >> i think that i can see your point, but i do feel strongly about this more than 20% of people with mortgages have seen their mortgages rise by over £1,000 a month. now if you took that thousand pounds away , um, i that thousand pounds away, um, i think the focus would come off these other issues to a large extent . but the second point extent. but the second point that i wanted to make is that this government is so foolish in the way it's conducted itself . the way it's conducted itself. um, uh , olivia and others have , um, uh, olivia and others have, without even thinking about it, really conflated the fall in inflation with the actions of the government. this government. andrew bailey at the bank of england sunak hunt, they have nothing to do with inflation falling. i've been saying this for a year. we have non consumer dnven

for a year. we have non consumer driven inflation by raising interest rates 14 times. they have increased the inflation. this kind of inflation cost push inflation falls by itself . they inflation falls by itself. they have prolonged the time when it's finally started to fall . it's finally started to fall. yeah. food and energy. food and energy prices not hunt. now by allowing even today the bank of england to keep interest rates where they are rather than reducing them. they are ruining the chances of everything they say they want to do. it's just stupid . stupid. >> yes, well, thank you very much indeed for your time. roger gewolb . and yes, you have been gewolb. and yes, you have been saying that for a long time. you've been saying it time and time again. but whether people are another thing. are listening is another thing. thank you very much, doctor roger roger gewolb, who was a former adviser to the bank of england uk treasury. so england and the uk treasury. so he he's talking he knows what he's talking about. now, you could start your new year with £10,000. now you might don't get might need this if we don't get the so £10,000 in the tax cuts. so £10,000 in cash, a £500 shopping spree and a brand new iphone sounds pretty

good. well, here's how you can make all of those prizes yours. >> make sure you don't miss your chance to win three brilliant pnzes chance to win three brilliant prizes in our great british giveaway prizes, which can make your new year start with a bang! there's a totally tax free £10,000 cash to be won cash to spend however you like. what would you do with it? we'll also send you on your new year shopping spree with £500 of vouchers to spend in the store of your choice. and all of of your choice. and if all of that wasn't enough, you'll also of your choice. and if all of thatavasn't enough, you'll also of your choice. and if all of thata brandenough, you'll also of your choice. and if all of thata brand new gh, you'll also of your choice. and if all of thata brand new iphone'll also of your choice. and if all of thata brand new iphone 15 also of your choice. and if all of thata brand new iphone 15 pro» get a brand new iphone 15 pro max another chance to win max for another chance to win the iphone. the vouchers and £10,000 cash text gb win to 84 9002. text cost £2 plus one standard network rate message or post your name and number to gb zero one, po box 8690 derby rd one nine, jvt, uk . only entrants one nine, jvt, uk. only entrants must be 18 or over lines close at 5 pm. on friday the 5th of january. see full terms and privacy notice at gb news. com forward slash win good luck .

forward slash win good luck. >> well there you go. you've got to be in it to win it. so that's how you enter the competition. now weather warnings are in place as storm garrett sweeps across . and guess across the country. and guess what? yet another storm is going to hit the uk on new year's eve. we'll get more information for you as and when we get it. i'm emily and this is good emily carver and this is good afternoon britain on gb news, britain's

isabel monday to thursdays from. six till 930.

>> well, welcome back. it's 225 in the afternoon. i'm emily carver and you're watching good afternoon britain on news now afternoon britain on gb news now later this hour i'll discuss the pro palestine protest that forced two stores at an east london shopping centre to close on boxing day. there you go. there's a little clip of what happened, but elsewhere, weather warnings are in place for wind and rain as storm garrett sweeps across the country. according to the environment agency, five flood warnings are active in england, along with 100 lesser flood alerts . this train flood alerts. this train operator, lner , has advised operator, lner, has advised customers not to travel due to the severe weather, so there you go. more, more travel disruption ian. joining us now is gb news reporter jeff moody in portsmouth . jeff, reporter jeff moody in portsmouth .jeff, it reporter jeff moody in portsmouth . jeff, it looks like portsmouth. jeff, it looks like the weather's deteriorating where you are . where you are. >> it is i was just thinking two days ago i was sitting by a log fire with a mince pie, and now

welcome back to work jeff . um, welcome back to work jeff. um, yes. the weather is getting worse. it is deteriorating. i wouldn't say that. it's a storm yet, but there are certainly wouldn't say that. it's a storm yet, blof here are certainly wouldn't say that. it's a storm yet, blof here a|warnings.y wouldn't say that. it's a storm yet, blof here a|warnings across plenty of storm warnings across the uk along the south coast in particular. um, we've heard that ferry services from southampton to the isle of wight have been suspended and, uh, from of wight that's been suspended . to and that's been suspended. to and then the same thing in scotland , then the same thing in scotland, we've heard that there's terrible conditions in parts of scotland. um, a tree is down on a line . finland line that's been a line. finland line that's been down for some time, which has been causing all sorts of problems with the with traffic . problems with the with traffic. but as well as that , um, the but as well as that, um, the problem is the wind and the rac is saying, whatever you do , if is saying, whatever you do, if you're out and about travelling, try try to avoid rural roads because there's a very real risk of trees coming down and also try to avoid, um, coastal roads too, because the waves can get

pretty fierce. and of course, all of this on the day that everyone is heading back from their christmas breaks . their christmas breaks. >> so, jeff, essentially what you're saying is that if you were if you can help it, you're saying is that if you were if you can help it , just were if you can help it, just stay at home and hunker down and watch gb news really don't don't venture out . venture out. >> have another day of christmas . this is the best thing to do. >> oh no. jeff i'm another day. >> oh no. jeff i'm another day. >> i mean, this is traditionally the day that everyone heads home, but, uh, stay. stay where you are today is my advice . you are today is my advice. >> okay, then there's the advice from jeff moody in portsmouth. it's a it's a very blustery. he's got his hood up. we always send him out and about in in the weather. come what may. whatever the weather is giving us. he's there outside in his waterproof, uh, ready to deliver us the very latest . so that was from latest. so that was from portsmouth, where the weather does look like it's deteriorating. but weather forecaster kettley joins me forecaster john kettley joins me now. joined john, thank you very much for joining now. joined john, thank you very much forjoining me. i hope much forjoining me. and i hope you lovely christmas. uh, you had a lovely christmas. uh,

so weather, this is this so this weather, this is this storm. garrett how bad is it in the scale of storms ? the scale of storms? >> well, it is what you'd call a typical british winter storm. it's not extreme by any means. we've seen winds gusting up to, uh, about 76 miles an hour over scotland. this morning. 83 miles an hour in north wales, in snowdonia . uh, so that's not snowdonia. uh, so that's not that extreme . but of course, it that extreme. but of course, it is widespread. so there's a widespread gale going on, and there's some heavy driving rain across many, many parts of the country well . and there's a country as well. and there's a new line of squally winds coming across britain across much of southern britain just at the moment, with another one uh one following across ireland. uh so most places are going to see a of rain in the a real downpour of rain in the next hours, that storm next few hours, and that storm centre to move across centre continues to move across northern scotland. it's brought some pretty nasty wintry weather this morning across to the balmoral estate up in the north of scotland . um, plenty heavy of scotland. um, plenty of heavy snowfall and that snowfall around there and that low pressure is going to sit there 2440 there for the next 2440 eight hours. there'll be more hours. so there'll be more strong come during strong winds to come during tomorrow and much into

tomorrow and not so much into friday, but certainly tomorrow. very windy and a lot of squally downpours coming through the showers into showers actually merging into some along bands some wetter spells along bands across the country from south—west to north—east. so this is storm garrett and as you've already hinted, really , you've already hinted, really, emily, there is some more stormy weather on the way. i reckon it's coming the 30th. it's coming in during the 30th. that's saturday, later on saturday into new year's saturday and into new year's eve. and that one, it's named eve. and that one, if it's named by met eireann by the met office or met eireann in ireland, it should be called storm henk. so we wait with bated breath for that one. >> yes , storm henk, it is that's >> yes, storm henk, it is that's coming for new year's eve . now, coming for new year's eve. now, do we have any idea if that will be worse? more treacherous , uh, be worse? more treacherous, uh, conditions than, uh, than today's storm? >> well, at the moment, my trajectories would bring it across more central parts of the uk. so in essence, that's going to affect more of southern britain. the fiercer winds will be down across england and wales, perhaps rather than up in the of scotland. but the north of scotland. but saying that it's certainly going to as well. i mean, to turn colder as well. i mean, today's temperatures quite today's temperatures are quite respectable up into

respectable now. we're up into double across many parts double figures across many parts of just up in the north of the uk, just up in the north of the uk, just up in the north of there's been of scotland, where there's been that . but that heavy snowfall. but temperatures beginning to that heavy snowfall. but tem aratures beginning to that heavy snowfall. but tem a little�*s beginning to that heavy snowfall. but tem a little bit beginning to that heavy snowfall. but tem a little bit begbriefly. to rise a little bit there briefly. uh, i think at the end of uh, but i think at the end of the week and into saturday, we are to see temperatures are going to see temperatures dipping and will dipping again, and there will be some in south. some mild weather in the south. but think but on the whole, i think there's chance of some there's a greater chance of some snow mountainous areas . snow in the mountainous areas. even central as we get even a central uk, as we get through to the weekend. so it looks cold through to the weekend. so it looksto cold through to the weekend. so it looksto the cold through to the weekend. so it looksto the new cold through to the weekend. so it looksto the new year, cold through to the weekend. so it looksto the new year, andld start to the new year, and a pretty stormy one. i hope that jeremy hunt doesn't start taxing us on stormy weather, because he's going to fortune out he's going to make a fortune out of this lot. >> well, if they can find way, >> well, if they can find a way, they'll way . thank they'll find a way. thank you very john kettley, weather very much, john kettley, weather forecaster. you for your forecaster. thank you for your time. appreciate now in a time. appreciate it. now in a few minutes i'll tell you why. the being hailed as the uk is being hailed as a world leader by a government minister. but first it's the latest headlines sam . latest news headlines with sam. >> emily, thank you very much. good afternoon from the gb newsroom. it's 231. the headunes newsroom. it's 231. the headlines this hour. a 16 year

old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson. that's following a fire at a school in west london. ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to the blaze at the london oratory school at around 10:00 this morning. the london fire brigade said. part of the building has been damaged but no injuries have been reported . injuries have been reported. chancellor jeremy injuries have been reported. chancellorjeremy hunt has chancellor jeremy hunt has announced the 2024 spring budget will be delivered on march the 6th. it comes as reports have emerged that downing street is considering axing inheritance tax and reducing income tax . tax and reducing income tax. meanwhile, the housing secretary, michael gove, has hinted at a pre—election giveaway suggesting the party will cut costs for first time home buyers . thousands of home buyers. thousands of travellers are facing delays or cancellations as storm gerrit forces flights to be grounded. earlier, 18 british airways flights at heathrow were axed. meanwhile, multiple weather warnings are in place for wind and rain across the uk today. meanwhile ferry passengers are facing up to three hours of

delays at dover port . the port delays at dover port. the port is facing high demand and thousands of people are making their post—christmas trips. those who miss booked ferries are being put on to the next sailing, with space available, enhanced passport checks by french border officials following the uk's withdrawal from eu have significantly from the eu have significantly increased processing times in the us, the michigan supreme court has rejected an attempt to remove former president donald trump from the 2024 presidential ballot , according to reports. ballot, according to reports. it's based on the us's constitutional insurrectionist ban.the constitutional insurrectionist ban. the ruling is in contrast with the recent court case in colorado, where mr trump was disqualified from running for president in the state due to his alleged role in the capitol riots . but that decision has riots. but that decision has been paused, though , pending an been paused, though, pending an appeal. been paused, though, pending an appeal . you can get more on all appeal. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website , gbnews.com .

website, gbnews.com. >> well, some fantastic news for those green minded among you. the uk has reportedly become the first g20 country to halve its carbon emissions. the secretary of state for energy, claire coutinho, claims new data shows emissions have halved in the last 50 years. now, according to the data that was published in the spectator, britain first reached the milestone in 2020, when the country locked down understandably so , but has now understandably so, but has now hit the target again . even the hit the target again. even the economy has opened up, so i'm joined by the senior lecturer in natural sciences at bangor university, doctor christian dunn and christian. sounds like good news. yeah . without a doubt good news. yeah. without a doubt it is good news. >> let's take these numbers with a pinch of salt. >> um, because, example, >> um, because, for example, they include the they don't include include the carbon emissions, which are produced offshore. >> so in other countries and then those goods are then sent to us. we use them in this country. >> so we need them. country. >> um, so we need them. country. >> um, butve need them. country. >> um, but it need them. country. >> um, but it doesn't em.

country. >> um, but it doesn't include those carbon emissions. >> and that obviously is increasing sort of carbon increasing those sort of carbon emissions increasing in emissions are increasing in developing countries. >> that, that that's, >> um, so that, that that's, that's the um, the negative side i >> -- >> but come on, let's be positive. >> we are doing great work in this reduce our this country at reduce our carbon emissions. so, so let's be thankful for that. >> well yes. does this just reflect the decline in carbon intensive industries in this country? christian >> yeah, most certainly that is the worry that it does. how ever. >> eveh >> um, it does. also, if you kind of start to dig down a little bit in the data and you look at kind of the amount of energy that's using by energy that's been using by households, like that are households, things like that are are well. that are declining as well. and that shows our , shows actually that some of our, um, appliances and our um, appliances and how our houses are being is houses are being built is starting to, um, be more energy efficient. and that's a good thing. i mean, i think obviously when it comes to kind of carbon emissions net zero, it does emissions and net zero, it does become very polarised . you know, become very polarised. you know, on one side, you know, people think want to live the think we want to live in the dark ages and flagellate ourselves if we kind use

ourselves if we kind of use any resources and the other side just want to kind of burn everything dolphins, everything and oil dolphins, whatever they want to, but it's not at all. whatever they want to, but it's not you at all. whatever they want to, but it's not you know, it all. whatever they want to, but it's not you know, this. whatever they want to, but it's notyou know, this is a far more >> you know, this is a far more nuanced debate. >> and there's many >> and also there's many advantages >> and also there's many advant.emissions. >> and also there's many advant.emissions . and one of carbon emissions. and one of those is our pockets. you know, if more efficient if we have more efficient housing, is more efficient ways of producing electricity, then that can ultimately save us money. >> so it has to be a good thing in many ways. >> well, is this data to >> well, is this data enough to silence the extinction rebellion types who often are out in protest at shutting roads down and the like ? and the like? >> i think there's little that will silence those sorts of people because, again, they're not looking at the nuance of the debate. >> they're very polarised. >> they're very polarised. >> um, but we should, you know, being pragmatic about this, it's good news. >> numbers have to be taken >> the numbers have to be taken with a pinch of but there with a pinch of salt. but there is still a lot of we have to do and we that if we want and we must do that if we want to our carbon but to cut our carbon emissions. but also live in also if we want to live in a better society as well. one where, you know, we things are more efficient, they're cheaper for us to use. there's so many advantages in this. it is not

just about cutting carbon emissions by cutting carbon emissions by cutting carbon emissions in the right way. we can actually build a better society for everybody . society for everybody. >> now, christian, must before >> now, christian, i must before before we depart ways , i must before we depart ways, i must challenge the premise of this interview and say, well , perhaps interview and say, well, perhaps it's not a good thing that we've halved our carbon emissions because it's meant some quite costly policies for people . yes costly policies for people. yes >> and this is then again, we have to have this nuanced debate. there is no good and bad. yes, of course, some of the system, some of these processes that we've put in place to cut carbon emissions are going to cost money. but it's the investment things. if we investment side of things. if we investment side of things. if we invest then long invest money now, then long terme, we will start to see savings. you know, if you insulate your house, you have the initial outlay and that hurts. of course it hurts. but then longer terme , you use less then longer terme, you use less electricity or less gas to power your heating. you're going to use less , you're going save use less, you're going to save money. have to money. and i think we have to look at this that way. we

look at this in that way. we have invest in this the have to invest in this for the benefits longer terme and the benefits longer terme and the benefits terme are huge. benefits longer terme are huge. it's just it's it's not just carbon, it's pubuc it's not just carbon, it's public sorts of public health, all sorts of other as well. other issues as well. >> yeah. i mean, i've sometimes spoken to trade unionists who ask, you know, where are all these green jobs that we've been promised? green promised? where is this green revolution? you know, we need we need the jobs that go with the net zero pledges as well . and net zero pledges as well. and they're not always available to they're not always available to the general public, but we're moving in the right direction. we're moving in the right direction. thank you very much, doctor christian dunn, professor direction. thank you very much, do naturalistian dunn, professor direction. thank you very much, do natural science, nn, professor direction. thank you very much, do natural science, senioryfessor of natural science, senior lecturer natural sciences at lecturer in natural sciences at bangor university. good to chat with you. so there you go. the proof is there. first country in the g20 to halve our carbon emissions . the g20 to halve our carbon emissions. is that a the g20 to halve our carbon emissions . is that a good thing? emissions. is that a good thing? do you think we should have gone further? we've further? do you think we've gone too far? have net zero policies been too costly for our economy? let know what you think. let me know what you think. vaiews@gbnews.com. but also , do vaiews@gbnews.com. but also, do you find ricky gervais's comedy problematic? i must admit i love ricky gervais. he's made some

controversial jokes in his new show. we'll debate whether he's funny or is he just offensive. i'm emily carr and this is good afternoon britain on gb news, britain's news

sunday mornings from 930 on gb news is. good afternoon britain. >> it's 242. welcome back to my panel >> it's 242. welcome back to my panel. joining me to discuss some of today's top stories is novara media journalist michael walker and entrepreneur and walker and the entrepreneur and reality tv star horgan

reality tv star ashlyn horgan wallace. thank you very much for coming back. now i want to get your opinion ricky gervais. coming back. now i want to get your sometimes ricky gervais. coming back. now i want to get your sometimes controversial, he's sometimes controversial, always funny in my view. he has always funny in my view. he has a new special out with ricky gervais and like much of his work, it's divided opinion . one work, it's divided opinion. one particularjoke about work, it's divided opinion. one particular joke about illegal migrants and gary lineker has sparked a bit of a backlash. see what you make of this . what you make of this. >> well, i am woke now and i can prove it. >> there you go. i love illegal immigrants. yeah yeah, sue me now. i sometimes i go down to dover for the day. right. and i look out right and look, look for a boat. and i see a dinghy with about 60 of them. and i go over here, right? >> and i pull them in, i pull them in to shore and i go, women and children. >> first they go, there are no women just you lads, is it? women in just you lads, is it? >> lads . >> just come on, lads, go lads. >> just come on, lads, go lads. >> if i go down there one day and there's no boat, i am absolutely gutted. >> i don't know, ijust absolutely gutted. >> i don't know, i just sort of wander into town and i. i stand by the traffic lights and i wait

for a big lorry to pull up right. and i look underneath and there's a lad sort of clutching like that, and i go, where you headed? and he goes, gary lineker's house. i go just down there . there. >> i heard a few giggles in the studio during that. i won't say who was laughing . um, i mean, who was laughing. um, i mean, it's just a bit funny, isn't it? michael >> i thought the gary lineker joke was naff . i think the joke was naff. i think the punchline didn't work. i thought , i don't get the gary lineker reference. >> well, it's just lineker >> well, it's just gary lineker tweets . tweets about refugees. >> jeez. >> em- e refugees are em—l >> and so refugees are going at gary like gary lineker's house. it's like okay, a little bit funny okay, seems a little bit funny is well he had he had is it? well he had he had a couple of as i understand it, gary lineker had a couple of refugees stay with him for a penod period of time. >> right . but period of time. >> right. but also as i understand ricky gervais and gary lineker have had a bit of back and forth on twitter. so then it makes sense having a little bit of a little bit of little bit of a, a little bit of a jab at him. but i mean, people say, know, he's offensive, say, you know, he's offensive, but this particular netflix special that's just been out since christmas day , i think,

since christmas day, i think, uh, number one in uh, it's trending number one in most countries in the world. michael >> i suppose was the >> i suppose that was the intention, it? intention, wasn't it? >> i assume sort >> i mean, if he's i assume sort of like he writes these jokes because to number because he wants to trend number one has say one on twitter. so he has to say something that he thinks is going controversial going to be, well, controversial enough to get people talking. >> is >> yeah. and i think comedy is it >> yeah. and i think comedy is h push >> yeah. and i think comedy is it push the boundaries and it does push the boundaries and it does push the boundaries and it does. always to it does. it's always going to offend somewhere. offend somebody somewhere. so you know, some snowflake somewhere will be crying about somebody's joke at some point. but comedy is . you but that's what comedy is. you know, it's going to it's going to boundaries and make to push the boundaries and make you differently. you think differently. maybe sometimes you think differently. maybe sonimportant. are important. >> bit of a power >> i think it's a bit of a power play >> i think it's a bit of a power play when um, play when people, um, get offended and in a kind of performative way , it's if enough performative way, it's if enough of us get offended, we can bring you down, ricky. but unfortunately for them, ricky is too big to be cancelled. >> well, it always just works the way around, the other way around, doesn't it? always, it? that's that's why i always, not well who are we talking about? >> we're thinking dan wootton and the other fella there will always be one that backfires. >> always be a >> there will always be a platform for people. sure. whether it's on twitter , whether

whether it's on twitter, whether it's on youtube, whether it's on whatever. out whatever. but you can lose out on, on, you know, mainstream gigs quite easily just for saying something . saying something. >> yeah, i suppose there are , >> yeah, i suppose there are, there are jokes sort of. that would have been told in the 70s and 80s and even, i mean, even to be honest, like ten years ago, like now as a ago, that sort of like now as a society, decided actually, ago, that sort of like now as a soci know, decided actually, ago, that sort of like now as a soci know, thatiecided actually, ago, that sort of like now as a soci know, thatieca ed actually, ago, that sort of like now as a soci know, thatieca bit actually, ago, that sort of like now as a soci know, thatieca bit cheap. i, you know, that is a bit cheap. it's a bit it's true. >> then and the >> but then where and so the line because you can't, line like, because you can't, you can't stifle everyone's speech so and nothing's speech so much and nothing's funny then. yeah. yeah. so you know, funny ricky gervais might have been making fun there of people who are outraged, outraged by illegal immigration. >> then he could have been actually poking fun at those who think it's a huge problem. >> i thought it could have gone either way. >> yeah, with with how you take it. >> no. yeah, it.— >> no. yeah, i, i it. >> no. yeah, i, i think probably he i mean, who knows. he was i mean, who knows. i thought the first line was delivered. >> well the, the, the line about women and children was delivered. >> well the line about gary lineker i thought was delivered. >> giggle all michael walker there first there on the first one. >> say a sense

>> yeah i'd say he has a sense of humour. >> left wingers do . i'm >> some left wingers do. i'm joking, i'm joking. i'm joking. right. let's move on. because government by whatsapp. what do you make of government by whatsapp. so david omand tells parliamentary the parliamentary inquiry the platform restricted platform should be restricted because it is inappropriate for decision making in government. as we know, during the pandemic we've seen so many messages in that covid inquiry conducted by by whatsapp, a lot of very serious things and a lot of a lot of whatsapps being deleted through covid, which is the danger of using whatsapp. >> and i think that, you know, messages can be misconstrued. um you don't know the tone of the person's voice. >> i just think it's an awful idea that the government are using perhaps in covid using whatsapp, perhaps in covid you why you can understand why it happened you can understand why it hapyou ad you can understand why it hapyou know, weren't allowed >> you know, we weren't allowed to etc. not that to see each other, etc. not that all were always abided all the rules were always abided to, but yeah, there's such a to, um, but yeah, there's such a dangehi to, um, but yeah, there's such a danger. i mean , controlling the danger. i mean, controlling the country by whatsapp. you could leave your phone somewhere. it's a, it's a risk somebody could pick it up and know everything .

pick it up and know everything. >> you know, just read your whatsapp and that's it. >> a good point. but i >> you make a good point. but i think , um, michael, i think some think, um, michael, i think some of our ministers and politicians , what's up in the future simply because it may end up being read out inquiry as evidence out in an inquiry as evidence against well, i think they against you? well, i think they unless i think they've all >> sorry. i think they've all turned deletion turned on automatic deletion haven't can a haven't they. so you can have a setting where after seven days it which i think it gets deleted, which i think they're anyway. it gets deleted, which i think they' mean, anyway. it gets deleted, which i think they' mean, this anyway. it gets deleted, which i think they' mean, this story anyway. it gets deleted, which i think they'mean, this story inyway. it gets deleted, which i think they'mean, this story i think. >> i mean, this story i think is, is about the national security risk. people gchq security risk. so people at gchq saying you should be using something more , um, you something a bit more, um, you know, secure. although i can't really that sort really imagine that the sort of the internal government platform really imagine that the sort of th particularly )vernment platform really imagine that the sort of th particularly )vernmy because )rm is particularly secure because they're not particularly competent at these kind of things competent at these kind of thirwell, is the thing. >> well, this is the thing. >> well, this is the thing. >> whatsapp actually one >> isn't whatsapp actually one of most secure i could move of the most secure i could move to messaging platforms ? to messaging platforms? >> your >> signal if you leave your phone someone phone somewhere when someone picks reads your picks it up and reads your whatsapp messages, well, there you go. >> em- ema-l >> but then i imagine they all have , but, um, i don't have face id, but, um, i don't know . but i mean, i have face id, but, um, i don't know. but i mean, i think i think a lot of people were shocked just by how much government was done via government business was done via whatsapp on iphones . whatsapp on iphones. >> yeah, i don't i'm not really

i mean, i speak to my colleagues on on whatsapp. >> i mean, we you don't want a issues national security . issues of national security. >> oh, we're talking about all sorts of issues of national. >> undermine >> we're trying to undermine it at . at my organisation. >> yeah. uh, you said it companies , big companies companies, some big companies don't even allow their employees to have whatsapp. >> i think the government >> so i think the government should not be using whatsapp. >> there is an issue with this kind it's kind of so there was always it's called productivity puzzle. kind of so there was always it's calledid productivity puzzle. kind of so there was always it's calledid p|internet:y puzzle. kind of so there was always it's calledid p|internet andizzle. why did the internet and everything not increase our productivity by a significant degree, and of leading degree, and sort of the leading theory at the is that it theory at the moment is that it did us more productive did make us more productive in some it made us less some ways, but it made us less productive others because some ways, but it made us less produ so ye others because some ways, but it made us less produ so distracted.. because some ways, but it made us less produ so distracted. we'rere we're so distracted. we're constantly on slack. we're constantly on slack. we're constantly on slack. we're constantly on whatsapp. constantly on slack. we're conso ntly on whatsapp. constantly on slack. we're conso maybe whatsapp. constantly on slack. we're conso maybe deletingp. would >> so maybe deleting it would just be for. good yeah, it definitely stupider definitely has made us stupider and shorter , you know? >> yeah. >> yeah. >> and people don't read as much. they don't do their own research as much relying on, um, you know, we don't even type it anymore. >> we can just speak it and it types it for us. it's definitely made us lazy. >> made me lazier. made us lazy. >> shallde me lazier. made us lazy. >> shall we ne lazier. made us lazy. >> shall we ne lazon something >> shall we move on to something else makes a lot of else that i know makes a lot of people angry ? um, not that

people angry? um, not that i want to you angry. um, but want to make you angry. um, but nhs parking charges now, during the pandemic , the government the pandemic, the government stopped these charges. um, but they come back. and since then, apparently £146 million has been spent by patients and visitors just on car parking last year. now, that's a 50% rise in just 12 months. now . michael perhaps 12 months. now. michael perhaps this could be framed as a good thing because it's money towards the nhs . the nhs. >> yeah, well, i think you've got a problem . so i think some got a problem. so i think some kind of charging for car parking is probably legitimate in the sense that you don't want everyone a centre everyone in a town centre starting the hospital car starting to use the hospital car park just to go to the shops. so so system it's so having some system where it's not sense. not a free for all makes sense. i problem though, i think the big problem though, is is used as an is when it is used as an alternative means funding the alternative means of funding the nhs, point of nhs, because the whole point of funding nhs through through proportional taxation that proportional taxation is that wealthy people spend more. we all put in money the idea that we, we fund the nhs by charging

care workers and people with sick relatives to me, to me seems like the opposite of what we're be doing. we're supposed to be doing. we're supposed to be having a fair rich fair society whereby the rich pay fair society whereby the rich pay more, the sort of pay more, the healthy sort of pay ' pay more, the healthy sort of pay , you know, towards the care pay, you know, towards the care for sick . and we to be for the sick. and we seem to be making sick pay more and making the sick pay more and doctors nurses pay more, and doctors and nurses pay more, and health care workers more, health care workers pay more, which like wrong which seems like the wrong way around. patients and workers >> i think patients and workers should have for parking should have to pay for parking outside hospitals. >> and i mean, >> definitely not. and i mean, i've an example. i took a i've got an example. i took a friend. i rushed a friend to hospital to a&e, and he ended up having a double bypass. um it was yeah, it was really, really serious . serious. >> and the thing he's fine >> and the last thing he's fine now . now. >> um, the thing i was >> um, the last thing i was thinking am thinking about was, oh, am i going a ticket? going to get a ticket? i got a ticket. but, you know, it's ridiculous . what was i supposed ridiculous. what was i supposed to not him in and not, to do, not rush him in and not, you time with the you know, spend time with the machine or downloading the app? yeah, really awful. machine or downloading the app? ythink really awful. machine or downloading the app? ythink there really awful. machine or downloading the app? ythink there needs ally awful. i think there needs to be a system. you're right. if it does generate money for the nhs, then great. >> but i thought of >> but i thought some of them were private firms that just took themselves . took the money themselves. >> if it all went took the money themselves. >>the if it all went took the money themselves. >>the nhs if it all went took the money themselves. >>the nhs as if it all went took the money themselves. >>the nhs as well.t all went to the nhs as well. >> don't know all goes

>> i don't know if it all goes to the nhs, but i do know that they companies to they use private companies to get um with the fines. yeah. get to um with the fines. yeah. so they can be quite aggressive, very aggressive and most people are going to the hospital. >> what all people are going to hospital, usually stressful hospital, usually a stressful situation , you know, it's situation unless, you know, it's a life. have a new baby a new life. you have a new baby that's . it's a joyous that's different. it's a joyous situation. but to then have the worry of getting a ticket on top of and you're on low of that and you're on low income, i think it's i think it's atrocious . they need it's atrocious. they need to scrap especially you have scrap it, especially as you have to hours for an to wait two hours for an ambulance yeah correct to wait two hours for an amiiflance yeah correct to wait two hours for an amiiflancwrong, yeah correct to wait two hours for an amiiflancwrong, but'eah correct to wait two hours for an amiiflancwrong, but inh correct to wait two hours for an amiiflancwrong, but in mostect me if i'm wrong, but in most workplaces free workplaces you do get free parking, you not? parking, do you not? >> i can't drive, so i've never i've up the i've never looked up the policies in central london. >> wouldn't know. i do policies in central london. >> inwouldn't know. i do policies in central london. >> in most n't know. i do policies in central london. >> in most workplaces i do policies in central london. >> in most workplaces i get think in most workplaces you get a parking, you get free parking. >> here i you drove here. >> here. i know you drove here. no, didn't , but, um. practice no, i didn't, but, um. practice what you preach here at gb views. yeah i don't know, because most, most car parks in hospitals, you know , they're not hospitals, you know, they're not that big. so i just feel like there reserved area , there should be a reserved area, especially for emergencies. >> , you know, you can prove >> and, you know, you can prove that out . you don't

that on the way out. you don't shouldn't to around shouldn't have to stand around and look. pay machines and look. look for pay machines and look. look for pay machines and worry about that when you've got emergency on your got an actual emergency on your hands, to hands, you need someone to go into an emergency care. hands, you need someone to go intcalso emergency care. hands, you need someone to go intcalso ,nergency care. hands, you need someone to go intcalso , what ncy care. hands, you need someone to go intcalso , what oftenire. hands, you need someone to go intcalso , what often happens is >> also, what often happens is that those who are senior in the business or the um, if we're talking about the private sector, they get special car parking and then the rest have to pay. so there you go. that's the evils of hierarchy. michael for you, the richer ones get free parking and the poorer ones get no parking. um, get costly parking. well, thank you very much . and just now, martin much. and just now, martin daubney has appeared as if by magic . magic. >> as if by magic. >> as if by magic. >> merry christmas everyone. >> merry christmas everyone. >> did you have a nice christmas? >> i did quite relaxed for. >> i did quite relaxed for. >> yeah, quite your >> yeah, quite relaxing. your christmas wish came true. >> very much. quite >> thank you very much. quite nice. nice. >> w- e in an nice. nice. >> in an exceptionally >> michael's in an exceptionally good mood, i must say. >> he's still drinking. uh >> yeah. he's still drinking. uh i'm well rested. >> i gave him some baileys. >> i gave him some baileys. >> that's why. >> that's why. >> all right, tell us what's coming right >> all right, tell us what's conso; right >> all right, tell us what's conso the right >> all right, tell us what's conso the budget's come in. can >> so the budget's come in. can anything the tories? >> so the budget's come in. can anyanyg the tories? >> so the budget's come in. can anyany any the tories? >> so the budget's come in. can anyany any tax1e tories? >> so the budget's come in. can anyany any tax cutories? >> so the budget's come in. can anyany any tax cut ones? >> so the budget's come in. can anyany any tax cut on the world? >> any any tax cut on the world? >> any any tax cut on the world? >> i think maybe it's too late.

we'll have to wait and see. um, no for the we'll have to wait and see. um, no time for the we'll have to wait and see. um, no time since for the we'll have to wait and see. um, no time since recordsthe we'll have to wait and see. um, no time since records began first time since records began 2018, not long what's the reason? >> only over christmas . >> only over christmas. >> only over christmas. >> christmas, right. exactly >> christmas, right. exactly >> what's the reason? the clue. it's nothing to do with the tories. um, driverless cars will be allowed on the by the be allowed on the roads by the end you'll be end of 2026. and you'll be allowed handed allowed to drive. no handed brake an accident brake through or an accident waiting happen. and donald waiting to happen. and donald trump's touching christmas message rot in hell. >> goodness me . >> goodness me. >> goodness me. >> well, it sounds like a varied and punchy show. as ever it is. well, thank you very much, martin. thank you very much to michael and also to michael walker and also to ashlyn wallace, you've ashlyn horgan wallace, you've been . that's all from been fantastic. that's all from me today. that's the end of good afternoon britain for now. i'll be back tomorrow from 12:00 till 3:00. thank you to my panel. martin daubney is next. he's got a rip roarer of a show before you . you. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar , the sponsors of weather solar, the sponsors of weather on . gb news.

on. gb news. >> hi there. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast storm garrett will continue to bring wet and windy weather to the uk for the rest of today, with heavy snow in northern scotland, so some treacherous conditions out there now. the worst of the wind and rain has eased for the time being. across england, wales, southern scotland . but wales, southern scotland. but another bout of wet and windy weather moves into wales, weather moves into west wales, northwest , through the northwest england, through the evening. wind evening. 70 mile per hour wind gusts but 80 mile per hour wind gusts but 80 mile per hour wind gusts across the north of gusts across the far north of scotland, heavy scotland, combined with heavy snow blizzards over hills and drifting well through the drifting as well through the night. the wind does ease a little and there'll be less rain about , but still some showers about, but still some showers coming in from the west and enough of a breeze, of course , enough of a breeze, of course, to keep the frost away . so to keep the frost away. so a mild start in the south, still on the cold side, across parts of scotland where there will continue to be hill snow into thursday and outbreaks rain at lower levels . strong winds lower levels. strong winds continue the country , continue across the country, with 40 to 50 mile per hour wind

gusts and some heavy bursts of rain. some longer spells of rain in places, for example, the south and southeast. by the end of . it's mild south and southeast. by the end of .it's mild in of the afternoon. it's mild in the 11 12 celsius, but the south, 11 or 12 celsius, but mid—single figures further north and colder than that over the hills. friday does start off with some sunshine. it's still blustery out there that are blustery out there and that are still quite a number showers still quite a number of showers around, particularly the around, particularly in the north in between north and the west. in between the showers, some sunny spells , the showers, some sunny spells, but on the chilly side and into the weekend. further hills snow in north, wet and windy in the north, wet and windy weather elsewhere . weather elsewhere. >> things are heating >> looks like things are heating up. boxt boiler year. sponsors of weather on .

gb news kathleen merry christmas, it's 3:00. >> i'm martin daubney. 3:00. >> i'm martin daubney . this is >> i'm martin daubney. this is gb news. thanks forjoining me. i'll be keeping you company for the next three hours. we've got an action packed show coming up. top story jeremy hunt has set the budget for march the 6th, and there's talks of tory tax handouts . it's too little, too handouts. it's too little, too late . can anything save the tory late. can anything save the tory party from electoral defeat? will drill into the details next. what a fantastic royal year it's been. we'll take a look back at yesterday's coronation documentary , coronation documentary, touching, moving as it was . touching, moving as it was. plus, in mike tindall , the plus, in mike tindall, the former rugby star, has prince